Maxillofacial Prosthetics
What is Maxillofacial Prosthetics and Prosthodontics ?
Maxillofacial Prosthetics and Prosthodontics is a specialty of dentistry which deals with the rehabilitation of patients with acquired and congenital defects of the head and neck region. These range from minor to major functional disabilities combined with cosmetic disfigurement.
Therapeuo as a centre for Maxillofacial Prosthodontics and Prosthetics
Rehabilitation of patients with head and neck disabilities is difficult and requires close interactions among several health science disciplines. The Maxillofacial Prosthodontist is the primary person involved in many facets of patient care, and is therefore the individual who is in the best position to coordinate the efforts required in this complex rehabilitative process. Members of the team include oral and maxillofacial surgeons, plastic surgeons, radiologists, oncologists, head and neck surgeons, neurosurgeons, otolaryngologists, periodontists, orthodontists, social workers, speech therapists, occupational therapists, among others. Our team is one that can bring together the needed specialists to evaluate and treat these patients, including our on-site maxillofacial prosthodontist.
Objectives of our Centre
The fundamental objective of our Centre is to provide prosthodontic reconstruction for those patients with orofacial defects resulting from birth defects, trauma, or following treatment for head and neck cancers. Defects of this type can lead to altered function and an inability to participate in normal activities, which has a negative impact on the patient's psychosocial behaviour. The Centre also addresses the need for a focal point for the education of medical, dental, and auxiliary dental health personnel.
Birth Defects
Craniofacial deformities such as cleft lip, cleft palate are managed by specialized teams of doctors and allied health professionals. The role of the maxillofacial prosthodontist is critically important in supporting the surgical care in such patients when closures of the openings between the nasal and oral cavities are achieved, or providing supporting structures for swallowing, chewing, and speech.
Trauma
Injuries resulting from motor vehicle, industrial and residential accidents, and gunshot wounds from assaults and/or suicide attempts account for a high incidence of residual orofacial defects which can result in disfigurement or compromise of function. These injuries can often be assisted by this Centre.
Cancer
- In India, 20 per 100000 population are affected by oral cancer which accounts for about 30% of all types of cancer (1). Over 5 people in India die every hour every day because of oral cancer (2). The main objective in the management of malignant disease is cure, but there are important secondary goals to be considered as well. Specifically, an attempt is made to preserve form and function and retain an acceptable quality of life for the patient. This includes the use of dental osseointegrated implants and appropriate dental restorations. In the mouth, our focus is towards restoration and retention of teeth, and restoration of the ability to chew and swallow. Facial disfigurement can be overcome by restoration of the eyes, ears, noses, or other facial structures, by means of silicone prosthetics, occasionally retained by cranial implants.
- R. Sankaranarayanan, K. Ramadas, G. Thomas et al., "Effect of screening on oral cancer mortality in Kerala, India: a clusterrandomised controlled trial,” The Lancet, vol. 365, no. 9475, pp. 1927–1933, 2005.
- Bhawna Gupta1, Anura Ariyawardana2,3 and Newell W. Johnson2 "Oral cancer in India continues in epidemic proportions: evidence base and policy initiatives"International Dental Journal 2013; 63: 12–25
