Indian Journal of Dental Research (Jan 2020)

A maxillofacial prosthetic obturator using precision attachments

  • Prajna P Shetty,
  • Ramesh Chowdhary,
  • Pooja P Shetty

DOI
https://doi.org/10.4103/ijdr.IJDR_123_18
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 31, no. 5
pp. 799 – 802

Abstract

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The majority of maxillary defects can be rehabilitated with pedicled flaps. However, when there are very large resections of the maxilla and flap success is questionable, then the defect may be obturated with a conventional hollow bulb clasp retained obturator or implant retained obturator prosthesis. However, inadequate retention, stability and support may be associated with the use of a conventional obturator and in case of recurrence the success of implant is questionable. A precision attachment becomes the silver lining. They have been used to retain obturator for some time. The use of precision attachments in a dentate maxillectomy patient can yield significant functional improvement while maintaining the obturator's aesthetic advantages. This clinical report describes the successful prosthetic rehabilitation of maxillary defects with an obturator retained using two different extracoronal resilient precision attachments. Attachment retained prosthesis provides a successful closure for the defect but also better esthetics, retention, better tolerability and better mastication and speech.

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