title: Analysis of maxillofacial prosthetics at university dental hospitals in the capital region of Korea.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to investigate the demographic patterns of maxillofacial prosthetic treatment to identify the characteristics and geographic distribution of patients with maxillofacial prosthetics in the capital region of Korea.
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective analytical multicenter study was performed by chart reviews. This study included patients who visited the department of prosthodontics at four university dental hospitals for maxillofacial prosthetic rehabilitation. Patients with facial and congenital defects or with insufficient medical data were excluded. The patients were classified into three categories based on the location of the defect. Patients' sex, age, and residential area were analyzed. Pearson's chi-square test with a significance level of 0.05 was used to analyze the variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 540 patients with maxillofacial prosthetics, there were 284 (52.59%) male patients and 256 (47.41%) female patients. The number of the patients varied greatly by hospital. Most patients were older than 70, and the most common defect was a hard palate defect. Chi-square analysis did not identify any significant differences in sex, age, and distance to hospital for any defect group (P>.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study indicated that there was imbalance in the distribution of patients with maxillofacial prosthetic among the hospitals in the capital region of Korea. Considerations on specialists and insurance policies for the improvement of maxillofacial prosthetics in Korea are required.
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics, Oral Science Research Center, College of Dentistry, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jee-Hwan
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-0872-4906
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics, College of Dentistry, Dankook University, Cheonan, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Soo-Yeon
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-6160-7277
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics, School of Dentistry, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Janghyun
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-1286-3140
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Paek
authors.affiliation: Oral Cancer Center and Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Seoul National University Dental Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jong-Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Dental Research Institute and Department of Prosthodontics, School of Dentistry, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Ho-Beom
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-4973-7727
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Kwon
keywords: Head and neck neoplasms; Mandibular prosthesis; Maxillofacial prosthesis; Palatal obturators; Velopharyngeal insufficiency