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Maxillary obturator prosthesis is usually preferred for patient going through partial or total maxillectomy. The heavy weight of the obturator prosthesis is usually a major concern to the prosthodontist as it may cause inconvenience with masticatory function. The maxillary defect may be congenital or acquired; hence, the latter often leads to patients encountering an array of physical and psychological distress. Rehabilitation of such patients is often challenging due to the extent of the defect area. Achieving adequate retention is of utmost importance as it reinforces the obturator musculoskeletal coordination. The processing technique described in this case report is the lost salt technique using a single-step flasking procedure which was customized accordingly with heat-cure acrylic resin as stops on the flask to accommodate the closed hollow obturator prosthesis as a single unit. This article describes the management of a patient who had undergone partial hemimaxillectomy secondary to mucoepidermoid cell carcinoma rehabilitated with hollow obturator prosthesis.

MB Ravi,1 Sowmya Srinivas,1 Ekaterina Silina,2 Soumee Sengupta,1 Tanvi Tekwani,1 Raghu Ram Achar3 1Department of Prosthodontics, JSS Dental College and Hospital, JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research, Mysuru, Karnataka, India; 2Department of Human Pathology, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russia; 3Division of Biochemistry, School of Life Sciences, JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research, Mysuru, Karnataka, IndiaCorrespondence: MB RaviDepartment of Prosthodontics, JSS Dental College and Hospital, JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research, Shri Shivarathreeshwara Nagar, Mysuru, Karnataka, 570015, IndiaEmail dr.ravimb@jssuni.edu.inAbstract: Mucormycosis, a rare fungal infection seen in diabetes, is now very frequent owing to the deadly triad of COVID-19 infection, diabetes, and rampant use of corticosteroids. Immediate management revolves around therapeutic drugs like antifungals, antibiotics, and aggressive surgical debridement. The cases described in the article explain prosthetic rehabilitation of maxillectomy defects. The findings focus on prosthetic rehabilitation of patients with acquired maxillectomy defects after mucormycotic necrosis post-COVID-19 infection and the techniques to overcome the complications like lack of supporting tissues and post-surgical microstomia. The maxillectomies were performed on patients who suffered a superinfection of mucormycosis after COVID-19 contraction and uncontrolled blood sugar levels. Case 1 elaborates a technique to overcome the complications like lack of supporting structures and microstomia by fabrication of sectional and hollow obturator prostheses using sectional impression technique and lost salt technique. Case 2 explains the management of an extensive defect with a mobile soft tissue flap and lone standing tooth by using a functional impression technique to gain retention and support from the remaining soft and hard tissues. Both the techniques overcome the clinical complications and give predictable outcomes. Prosthetic rehabilitation of such challenging cases needs modifications depending upon the clinical challenges encountered.Keywords: maxillectomy, microstomia, sectional impression, lost salt technique, functional impression

Maxillary defects resulting from ablative oncologic surgery can be extensive and usually have complex contours. Impression procedures for such defects can be time consuming and cumbersome, challenging the skills of even the most‐experienced clinician. A well‐oriented impression tray with proper extension and adequate contour is essential for successfully capturing the relevant details in impression. This article describes a method using the patient's existing obturator prosthesis to simplify and expedite the fabrication of a lightweight individualized impression tray directly on an irreversible hydrocolloid impression, thus avoiding the preliminary impression procedure for the patient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An ocular defect can be due to many reasons such as congenital absence of an eye and acquired causes which occurs due to enucleation or exenteration procedure. Ocular defects requires urgent rehabilitation to prevent further changes and to prevent shrinkage. In this article we are going to describe a for fabrication of a prosthesis that should be light weighted (pneumatic) using a lost salt technique basically to reduce the weight of prosthesis for large socket, to overcome the worsening effects of conventional solid prosthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Congenital or acquired tissue defects of the palate and/or contiguous oral structures need special precautions for proper sealing. Palatal defect of any extent causes multiple problems in speech, mastication and aesthetics. Palatal obturator is the only substitute that covers the entire defect and contributes to normal speech production and improves functional efficiency. It eliminates hypernasality and improves the communication. This case report describes the fabrication of closed hollow bulb obturator in a patient that had undergone maxillectomy on left side. Lost salt technique was used to fabricate the bulb hollow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]