MAXILLOFACIAL PROSTHESIS

Prostheses prepared for congenital, trauma-related or post-cancer cavities in the maxillofacial area are called maxillofacial prostheses.

These cavities can be inside or outside the mouth. The cavities inside the mouth include the upper jaw and lower jaw, and the cavities outside the mouth include the eyes, nose and ear. A defect may be in one of these regions or in several of them together.

If not treated, such defects in the face area cause a serious loss in quality of life. They can cause problems in functional activities such as swallowing and eating, as well as psychological problems in the individual in terms of appearance.

The purpose of maxillofacial prostheses is to improve the aesthetic appearance, to alleviate the psychological pressure caused by physical differences in social life, to reduce or eliminate problems such as speaking, chewing and swallowing caused by the defect.

There are two methods to close these cavities that may occur as a result of a surgical procedure or may exist as congenital. These methods include surgical and prosthetic procedures. Surgical procedures can be preferred in cases where the cavities are small and another surgical procedure is not required by the operating surgeon. However, prosthetic procedures often meet the aesthetic expectation much better.

Facial prostheses are made on the individual basis by using soft silicone material to resemble the skin structure. Generally, symmetrical anatomy is used to achieve an aesthetic appearance. Maxillofacial prostheses receive support from the existing cavity, but this support often remains insufficient. In such a case, implant support should be considered, and the condition and amount of the bone should be evaluated. However, in some cases, implant support cannot be obtained or may not be sufficient. In these cases, prosthesis-specific adhesives may be recommended by the physician. In addition, the maxillofacial tissue may be affected and a combined prosthesis may be required in some cases. In this case, two prostheses can be prepared separately, and it can be ensured that they receive support from each other with a mechanism that will connect them.