title: Split Hollow Bulb Obturator to Rehabilitate Maxillary Defect: A Case Report.
abstract: The rehabilitation of a maxillectomy patient involves meticulous treatment planning and designing. Lack of retention and facial support and limited mouth opening are the major issues that lead to functional and psychological trauma in post-maxillectomy patients. The successful rehabilitation of a maxillary defect includes restoring the function, esthetics, and a complete obturation of the defect, enabling the patient to feed without nasal regurgitation. This case report describes the fabrication of an obturator with a modified design, namely a split-antral hollow bulb obturator and oral part that is retained with a ball attachment, for a patient with right-side acquired maxillary defect due to recurrent myxoma. The primary advantage of this modification is enhanced facial support and a self-retentive antral obturation that improved the quality of life of the patient after an extensive maxillectomy.
authors.affiliation: Prosthodontics, Faculty of Dental Sciences, Sri Ramachandra University, Chennai, India.
authors.forename: Kasim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mohamed
authors.affiliation: Prosthodontics, Faculty of Dental Sciences, Sri Ramachandra University, Chennai, India.
authors.forename: Umamaheswari
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Mani
authors.affiliation: Prosthodontics, Faculty of Dental Sciences, Sri Ramachandra University, Chennai, India.
authors.forename: Prathibha
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Saravanakumar
authors.affiliation: E.N.T., Sri Ramachandra University, Chennai, India.
authors.forename: S Prasanna
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: E.N.T., Sri Ramachandra University, Chennai, India.
authors.forename: Ravikumar
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Arunachalam
keywords: ball attachment; hollow bulb; self retentive bulb; split design; sub-total maxillectomy