A custom made extraoral aid for retaining interim obturator in edentulous patients with bilateral maxillectomy: A report of four patients

: It is a considerable challenge for a prosthodontist to rehabilitate and sustain the prosthesis in edentulous patients with bilateral maxillectomy. Compelling evidence is lacking with respect to the treatment outcome when the maxillary defects are closed surgically in comparison to their prosthetic rehabilitation. Four edentulous male patients, with bilateral maxillectomy defects were referred for prosthodontic intervention to meet their nutritional and speech issues. In the absence of intra oral supporting and retentive structures, it was decided to retain the obturator utilizing extraoral aid to address their functional needs. Customized headgear face-bow retained obturators were adequately retentive and did serve its purpose well in all four patients. It also gave the liberty to alter retention and refine the prosthesis at will, provided access to the operated site for a quick evaluation of disease recurrence, and was economical to the patients. Considering the encouraging outcome experienced in this special category of individuals, it would be reasonable to believe that the headgear face-bow assembly has an immense potential to function as a valuable, prudent, and a viable retentive aid for a non-implant retained obturator in edentulous patients with extensive maxillary defect.