The term maxillectomy is used by maxillofacial surgeons to means and anatomical structures of patients left at the surgical describe partial or total removal of the maxillae in patients site for its retention. suffering from benign or malignant neoplasms. Maxillectomy

and closed hollow obturators, inflatable obturators and 2-piece 3 hollow obturator prosthesis. This clinical series describes the fabrication of hollow definite obturators utilizing mechanical The term maxillectomy is used by maxillofacial surgeons to means and anatomical structures of patients left at the surgical describe partial or total removal of the maxillae in patients site for its retention. suffering from benign or malignant neoplasms. Maxillectomy defects can be categorized as limited, partial, medial, subtotal, 1 total and radical. The Aarmany's classification according to size of defect consisting of six classes Midline, unilateral, central, anteroposterior, bilateral anterior and bilateral posterior A twenty two year old male patient reported to the Department 2 resection. The intraoral surgical defect often includes removal of Prosthodontics Dr. Ishrat-ul-Ebad Khan Institute of oral health of the hard and soft palates, which results in an oroantral sciences / Dow University of health sciences Karachi with a 3 communication. The hard and soft palates are anatomical swelling on the right side of the palate. The patient was referred structures that have widely recognized roles in speech and from the ear and nose throat department after being diagnosed 3 deglutition. Several treatment options have been advocated for as mucoepidermoid carcinoma. A surgical resection of the reconstruction of such defects. The strategic treatment plan tumor was planned which was to be followed with prosthetic must incorporate the help from oral and maxillofacial surgeon, rehabilitation (Figure I). Prosthodontist, Speech therapist, Psychiatrist, General dentist 4 and Dental auxiliary staff. Since the surgical approach alone without prosthetic rehabilitation of the surgical defect will result in air, liquid and food escaping into the maxillary sinus and nasal cavities, causing severe speech and swallowing dysfunction with significant 4 reduction in quality of life. keeping this in mind the use of an obturator prosthesis in conjunction with preprosthetic surgery for restoration of maxillary defects is a gold standard treatment option. Obturator is a prosthesis used to close a congenital or an acquired tissue opening, primarily of hard palate and 5 contiguous alveolar structures. Effective obturation of maxillary defects produces sufficient separation of the oral and nasal cavity to improve the quality 4 and intelligibility of speech. It also enhances masticatory 4 function, deglutition and esthetics. The weight of maxillary obturator prosthesis is often a factor to be considered with respect to retention and comfort of the patient. The weight of 5 the prosthesis may act as a dislocating force. Hence it is 4 desirable to design light weight prosthesis. Obturator designs for partial and total maxillectomy defects have included open Diagnostic impressions of maxillary and mandibular arches were made for the fabrication of a surgical obturator, which could act as a surgical stent. The patient was then operated and the tumor was excised. The surgical resection also included a part of the palate and the following teeth. The defect category was class 1 Aramany “midline resection” (Figure II). The surgical obturator was planned to be worn for a period of 14 days, following which the patient was given interim obturator until a satisfactory healing of the tissues is achieved (Figure III). Since the patient was depressed and not giving regular follow up visits, so it was decided to reline the obturator and patient was sent to the psychologist for psychiatric support. After this CLINICAL SERIES ABSTRACT