Maxillofacial defects lead to esthetic problems and also compromise oral functions such as speech, mastication, and swallowing.[1] The common cause of maxillofacial defects includes cancer, trauma, and infections. There is a great role of maxillofacial prosthetics in the diagnosis and rehabilitation of head-and-neck cancer patients.[2]
The treatment of head and neck cancers includes surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or in combination. General surgical procedures for the removal of a tumor in the head-and-neck region include maxillectomy, mandibulectomy, glossectomy, and eye surgery (enucleation and exenteration). Following surgical resection, prosthetic rehabilitation should be done by fabricating extraoral/facial (ocular, orbital, facial, nasal, or lip) prostheses or intraoral prostheses (obturator, tongue, and/or mandibular denture).[3] Recently, there has been considerable advancement in clinical dentistry and the current state of the art in maxillofacial prosthetics. These include 3D diagnosis and treatment planning, digital technologies aiding treatment procedures, and computer-designed fabrication of prostheses.[4] Various new biomaterials have been developed which can be used for the prosthetic rehabilitation of maxillofacial defects.[5-7]
For large and aggressive tumors, radiotherapy is given in addition to surgery. The common debilitating side effects of radiotherapy in the head and neck include mucositis and pain, sore throat, dry mouth, taste changes, radiation caries, osteoradionecrosis, lethargy, and weakness.[8,9] Such complications require short-term and long-term care.
Successful maxillofacial prosthetic care includes a multidisciplinary approach for the rehabilitation of head-and-neck cancer patients. Still, apparent barriers to services exist, particularly the availability of materials, skilled manpower, and cost.[2] The service providers should be aware of such debilitating problems and treatment options in head-and-neck cancer patients.