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International Journal of Applied Dental Sciences
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P-ISSN: 2394-7489, E-ISSN: 2394-7497
ICV 2019: 92.11

2019, Vol. 5 Issue 3, Part B

Assessment of obturator functioning in Kashmiri patients rehabilitated with an obturator prosthesis post hemi-maxillectomy: A cross-sectional study

AUTHOR(S): Falak Naz and Sandeep Kaur Bali
ABSTRACT:Since the incidence of oral cancers on rise especially in developing countries like India, it becomes prime duty of the professionals to focus on improving the overall patients’ health-related quality of life This can be achieved by proper prosthodontic intervention during surgical management of such patients. Obturators have proven to be non-invasive and simple methods for restoring the continuity of the defects in patients who have undergone resection for oral tumors. Our study aimed to assess the obturator functioning in patients with hemimaxillectomy using obturator prostheses. This study was conducted at department of Prosthodontics govt dental college Srinagar Kashmir J&K India. 50 hemimaxillectomy patients were included in the study. A questionnaire ‘Obturator Functioning Scale’ was administered to these patients after 6 months of definitive obturator use. The responses to all the questions were recorded on a 5-point Likert scale. The problems encountered by the patients with the use of obturators were presented in the form of frequency and percentages. Results showed that maximum patients 42 (84%) experienced difficulty in chewing food with their obturator prostheses patients. A total of 34(68%) patients experienced leakage while swallowing food with their obturator prostheses, 20(40%) patients experienced a difference in voice from before surgery with their obturator prostheses in place, 12(24%) had difficulty in talking in public, 9(18%) patients had nasal speech and 10(20%) patients had difficulty in pronouncing words. There were 7(14%) patients who had speech that was difficult to understand, 4(8%) patients had difficulty in talking on phone, 30(60%) patients had dry mouth, 21(42%) patients were dissatisfied with their looks, 14(28%) patients had noticeable clasps on front teeth visible, 24(48%) patients avoided family, 29(58%) patients had difficulty in inserting the obturator and 20 (40%) patients experienced a funny looking upper lip. Patients reported the least difficulty with numbness in the upper lip (4%).Our study concluded suggest that for majority of hemimaxillectomy patients the most common problems related to obturator functioning are difficulty in mastication, insertion, swallowing and dryness of the mouth. Obturator prosthesis serves the functions of speech and esthetics very well but it is not very efficient in terms of mastication and swallowing.
Pages: 107-110  |  1090 Views  77 Downloads
How to cite this article:
Falak Naz, Sandeep Kaur Bali. Assessment of obturator functioning in Kashmiri patients rehabilitated with an obturator prosthesis post hemi-maxillectomy: A cross-sectional study. Int J Appl Dent Sci 2019;5(3):107-110.
International Journal of Applied Dental Sciences

International Journal of Applied Dental Sciences

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International Journal of Applied Dental Sciences