AN INNOVATIVE TECHNIQUE OF FABRICATION OF HOLLOW OBTURATOR FOR A CASE OF HEMI-MAXILLECTOMY

Hemimaxillectomy patients need rehabilitation for the closure of the defect so that the functions such as speech, mastication, esthetics and deglutition are restored to as normal as possible. Obturator is the prosthesis that is used for the patients with palatal defects. The palatal defects can be either congenital or acquired. The main problem while fabricating an obturator to close a larger defect is the weight of the prosthesis. An obturator need to be fabricated in such a manner so that the factors like retention stability and support are not compromised. This can be achieved by making the prosthesis as light as possible. This case reports deals with a unique way of fabrication of hollow obturator for a patient with a maxillectomy defect on the left side with only four posterior teeth remaining on the unaffected side. The uniqueness of this obturator is the hollowing of not only the bulb of the obturator, but also, the hollowing of the denture base.