What Are the General Principles of Maxillofacial Prosthetics?
Posted on 6/19/2023 by Alexandra Garcia DDS MS
When a patient presents a defect from birth such as a cleft palate or lip and acquired neurological deficiency such as cancer of the mouth or face, or a facial impairment following a stroke requires a maxillofacial prosthesis. The purpose of maxillofacial prostheses is to rehabilitate patients with cosmetic disfigurement or functional prosthodontics.
Dental experts such as prosthodontists can perform prosthetic reconstruction and rehabilitation on the patient's jaw and face. This usually involves consultations between several dental experts from various disciplines to rehabilitate the patient completely. Some dental professionals involved in maxillofacial prosthetics include an oncologist, neck and head surgeon, orthodontist, periodontist, and neurosurgeons.
How Maxillofacial Prostheses Work
Maxillofacial prostheses are customized and fabricated devices that are designed for the sole purpose of reconstructing acquired or congenital disabilities of the face and mouth. This comprises prosthetic devices such as palatal augmentation devices, palatal lifts, speech obturators, and bulbs.
Maxillofacial treatment is meant to restore function and form using several devices to improve the general quality of life. Take, for instance, palatal obturators, which are designed to close defects in the soft and hard palate to restore normal oral function such as improved speech, chewing, and breathing. On the other hand, a bulb, another maxillofacial prosthesis, is designed to help patients who have lost substantial palatal tissue and plays a vital role in swallowing and proper speech.
The main goal of the maxillofacial prosthesis is to improve the cosmetic form or overall function of the face and jaw, respectively. It is critical to consult an expert if you require complex oral treatment since they will be able to pay attention when planning and to coordinate the input from other dental-related disciplines for the best outcomes after treatment.
Dental Blog | Prosthodontist Houston, TX | Alexandra Garcia, DDS, MS Dr. Alexandra Garcia is offering this blog as a resource to the community. Click here to learn more about procedures, home care, and a variety of other dental topics! Alexandra Garcia, DDS, MS, 777 Post Oak Blvd, Suite 625, Houston, TX 77056 + (346) 250-2930 + dralexandragarcia.com + 12/2/2024 + Related Terms: dental implants Houston TX +
When a patient presents a defect from birth such as a cleft palate or lip and acquired neurological deficiency such as cancer of the mouth or face, or a facial impairment following a stroke requires a maxillofacial prosthesis. The purpose of maxillofacial prostheses is to rehabilitate patients with cosmetic disfigurement or functional prosthodontics.