Post maxillectomy rehabilitation and amelioration of quality of life of post-COVID rhinocerebral mucormycosis patients using obturator: A case series

Abstract

Mucormycosis, a rare fungal infection seen in diabetes, is now very frequent owing to the deadly triad of COVID-19 infection, diabetes, and rampant use of corticosteroids. Early diagnosis and treatment can reduce the mortality and morbidity of this lethal fungal infection. Treatment principles may include antifungal agents along with surgical debridement or resection. The surgically removed palate can have a devastating effect on the appearance and speech of the patient. Obturators allow patients to eat and drink without any suspicion of food entering the oroantral cavities/pharynx during mastication. This case series presented the prosthodontic rehabilitation of nine post-COVID rhinocerebral mucormycosis-infected patients with complete or partial defects.

Keywords

• definitive obturator
• immediate obturator
• interim obturator
• maxillectomy
• rhinocerebral mucormycosis
• soft reliners