Patients' satisfaction on the obturators with different extension heights into defects after maxillectomy.
10.4047/jkap.2010.48.1.41
- Author:
Ho Beom KWON
1
;
Jai Bong LEE
;
Soon Ho YIM
Author Information
1. Department of Prosthodontics, School of Dentistry, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Maxillectomy;
Obturator;
Preference;
Obturator height
- MeSH:
Humans;
Mastication;
Mouth;
Prostheses and Implants;
Prosthodontics
- From:The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
2010;48(1):41-47
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the functional abilities of the low bulb obturators with those of high bulb obturators in terms of patients' evaluation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study included 11 maxillectomy patients who underwent postoperative prosthodontic rehabilitations. Two obturators of the same design except for different bulb heights, were fabricated for each of the maxillectomy patient. After two months of alternate use, the functions of the obturators were measured by investigating the patients' subjective evaluations in terms of convenience, speech, nasality, leakage, and mastication and identifying their preferred prostheses. Wilcoxon signed rank test was used as a statistical method (P < .05). RESULTS: There were no significant differences in patient evaluations of low and high bulb obturators (P >.05). And patients' preferences varied. CONCLUSION: In extreme situation such as in mouth opening limitation, the use of low bulb obturators can be recommended and result in comparable speech function to that of obturators with high lateral walls.
