Maxillofacial Obturators

Defects in the maxillary jaw can be classified as congenital, developmental, acquired, traumatic or surgical involving the oral cavity and related anatomic structure. Absence or loss of some or all of the soft palate and / or hard palate results in deficient anatomical structure or altered function of the remaining tissues. Defects can result in disruption of articulation and airflow during speech production and also nasal reflux during swallowing. Patients after surgical resection have altered anatomy due to scaring, tissue contracture, lack of bony support and edema of the tissues. These changes require the fabrication of prosthesis to help the patient in deglutition and speech. The prosthesis fabricated for these patients are called as obturators that are designed to close the opening between the residual hard and / or soft palate and the pharynx. An obturator is a prosthesis which is fabricated for the patients with the palatal defects in the form of cleft lip and palate, oroantral fistula or surgical resection after removable of pathology like tumor or cancer.