A Hollow Bulb Obturator For Maxillary Resection In A Completely Edentulous Patient- A Case Report
157-162
Correspondence
Dr Rajani Dable, Professor, SMBT Dental College and hospital and research institute, Amrutnagar, Sangamner, email- rajnidable@hotmail.com,
Palatal defect of any extent causes multiple problems in speech, mastication and esthetics. Palatal obturator is the only substitute which covers the defect and contributes to normal speech production. It eliminates hypernasality and improves the communication. An obturator prosthesis for an edentulous patient becomes more critical in terms of its movements as there is no mechanical retention available. Denture is supported only by the underlying residual ridge and the defect.In the present case, surgical removal of part of the palate made the labial and buccal mucosa more stretched and fibrous, thus limited the potential to use features which otherwise help in retention and stability of denture such as the depth of sulci, muscle function or neuromuscular control. Hollow bulb obturator was the treatment of choice here, which helped in reducing the extra loads on underlying tissues and remaining amount of bone.