Total Edentulism and Loss of Jaw Substance: Functional and Aesthetic Issues

Prosthetics continue to play a key role in the rehabilitation of edentulous patients. However, prosthetic rehabilitation becomes more complex with the loss of substance. Several factors must be considered, including the additional weight of the obturator and the quality of the supporting surface, which is often altered by surgery or other complementary treatments. The current treatment for malignant tumors of the maxilla is based on surgical resection, which may be partial or complete. The principle is to remove the affected area with a margin of healthy tissue to prevent tumor recurrence. As a result, maxillofacial prosthodontists face a variety of clinical situations, depending on the size and location of the substance loss and the degree of edentulism. These factors have a decisive influence on prosthetic rehabilitation success. The aim of this article is to describe the prosthetic management of a patient with palatal substance loss following surgical resection of a tumor, highlighting the constraints encountered and the specific features of this clinical situation.