Effect of spatial arrangement and clinical service lifetime simulation on the retention of magnetic units used in implant-anchored orbital prostheses.

Statement Of Problem: Evidence for the optimal spatial arrangement of magnetic attachments in implant-supported orbital prostheses is lacking.

Purpose: The purpose of this in vitro study was to assess the effect of 6 different spatial arrangements on the retentive force of magnetic attachments following the in vitro simulation of clinical service by insertion-removal test cycles and the contribution of artificial aging to the morphological alterations induced on the magnetic surfaces.

Material And Methods: Ni-Cu-Ni plated disk-shaped neodymium (Nd) magnetic units (d=5 mm, h=1.

Prosthetic Rehabilitation of a Complex Maxillofacial Defect as an Alternative to Surgical Reconstruction: A Case History Report.

Free tissue transfers are used to restore maxillofacial resected tissues during tumor ablative surgery. The maxillofacial prosthodontist remains an integral member of the therapeutic team, since conventional retained facial prostheses are in certain cases the most practical, trouble-free, cost-efficient, and successful means of rehabilitation.

Erratum to "Clinical evaluation of the intraoral fluoride releasing system in radiation-induced xerostomic subjects. Part 2: Phase I study".

Radiation-induced xerostomia can result in the rapid onset and progression of dental caries in head and neck cancer patients. Topically applied fluorides have been successfully used to inhibit the formation of dental caries in this population. However, because intensive daily self-application is required, compliance is an issue.

Digital imaging in the fabrication of ocular prostheses.

Several ocular and orbital disorders require surgical intervention that may result in ocular defects. The associated psychological effect of these defects on the patient requires immediate management and rehabilitation intervention by a team of specialists. The role of the maxillofacial prosthodontist in fabricating an ocular prosthesis with acceptable esthetics to restore facial symmetry and normal appearance for the anophthalmic patient becomes essential.

Stent fabrication for graft immobilization following wide surgical excision of myofibroblastic sarcoma of the buccal mucosa: a clinical report.

Sarcomas of the head and neck are rare tumors derived from cells of mesenchymal origin. This article briefly discusses the epidemiology, etiology, and classification of head and neck sarcomas. Emphasis is placed on myofibrosarcoma, a malignant tumor of the myofibroblasts.

Interactions of pigments and opacifiers on color stability of MDX4-4210/type A maxillofacial elastomers subjected to artificial aging.

Statement Of Problem: The color instability and degradation of maxillofacial elastomers limit the function and cosmetic quality of facial prostheses.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to measure the interactions of oil pigments plus dry earth opacifiers at 5%, 10%, and 15% by volume in stabilizing the color of MDX4-4210/type A silicone elastomers before and after artificial aging.

Material And Methods: In the first part of the study, each of 5 opacifiers (Georgia kaolin powder neutral, kaolin powder calcined, Artskin white, dry pigment titanium (Ti) white, or Ti white artists' oil color) at 10% concentrations were combined with each of 5 oil pigment types (no pigment, cadmium-barium red deep, yellow ochre, burnt sienna, or a mixture of the 3 pigments), for a total of 25 experimental groups of elastomers.

Facial prosthetic rehabilitation: preprosthetic surgical techniques and biomaterials.

Purpose Of Review: Attention to detail ensuring a successful facial prosthetic rehabilitation must be considered a priority at the time of presurgery, surgery, and at every stage in fabricating the prosthesis. Teamwork between the surgeon and maxillofacial prosthodontist will ensure an optimal surgical preparation and definitive prosthesis.

Recent Findings: Evidence of interaction between team members can most certainly be encouraging to the patient.

A technique for the fabrication of an immediate mandibular surgical stent securing a skin graft.

Patients who receive a skin graft following an ablative mandibular procedure may require an immediate intraoral surgical stent. This article describes an efficient and accurate method of fabricating an immediate mandibular surgical stent in the operating room setting.

Mutans streptococci in xerostomic cancer patients after pilocarpine therapy: a pilot study.

Objectives: Opiod- and/or radiation-induced xerostomia in cancer patients is frequently associated with elevated levels of cariogenic mutans streptococci (MS).

Study Design: In a single-center, single blind 8-week clinical trial at The University of Texas M. D.

In vitro effect of microwave irradiation on the retentive force of magnets.

Statement Of Problem: Few studies have addressed the possible effect(s) of microwave irradiation on the magnetic properties of "permanent" magnets during the fabrication of dental and maxillofacial prostheses.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of microwave irradiation energy on the retentive force of a magnetic attachment system used in maxillofacial prosthetic rehabilitation.

Material And Methods: A heat-polymerized PMMA disk (6 cm in diameter) was fabricated.

Obturation of the partial soft palate defect.

A partially resected soft palate represents a more significant challenge for effective prosthodontic obturation than for complete soft palate resections. In fact, for some patients it may not be possible to prosthetically rehabilitate with partial soft palate resections, resulting in velopharyngeal dysfunction, which could include hypernasal voice quality and nasal regurgitation of food and liquids. This article presents a technique for recording the contours of a partial soft-palate defect for prosthetic obturation.

How I do it: a technique for oral wound irrigation following maxillectomy and mandibulectomy.

Background: Numerous devices have been recommended for ensuring appropriate hygiene and care of wounds resulting from maxillectomy and mandibulectomy. This article describes an irrigation device for use in the oral cavity after these procedures.

Methods: The system consists of: a prepackaged, disposable, 50-cc piston syringe; a nonconductive connecting tube; and, a saliva ejector that can be assembled for oral irrigation.

Facial moulage: the effect of a retarder on compressive strength and working and setting times of irreversible hydrocolloid impression material.

Statement Of Problem: Irreversible hydrocolloid is widely used as an impression material for fabrication of extraoral maxillofacial impressions. A disadvantage of irreversible hydrocolloid, however, is its limited working time.

Purpose: This study tested the compression strength (elastic recovery) and working and setting times for an irreversible hydrocolloid impression material after a retarder was added.

A mold-making procedure for multiple orbital prostheses fabrication.

Traditional methods of fabricating orbital prostheses rely on the "lost wax" technique to produce a realistic representation of the sculpted pattern produced in the defect. The usual constituents of the mold that reproduces the subtleties of the palpebral fissure are often minute, making them prone to fracture and subsequent dissolution by repeated attempts at pressing each prosthesis. The following method provides a mold resistant to these problems with light-polymerized resin surrounding the palpebral part of the orbital mold.

Custom modification of the Blom-Singer tracheostoma valve housing.

A technique is presented for modifying the Blom-Singer tracheostoma valve housing to improve peristomal skin adherence for hands-free tracheoesophageal speech production following total laryngectomy. The finished product is thin, flexible, and maintains enhanced tear strength. The edges of a standard housing device for the Blom-Singer valve are trimmed to allow for better accommodation to the tissue surface without distortion.

Effect of opacifiers on color stability of pigmented maxillofacial silicone A-2186 subjected to artificial aging.

Purpose: This study was designed to determine the effect of opacifiers used at different ratios on the color stability of pigmented A-2186 silicone maxillofacial elastomers and to evaluate the color spectrophotometrically before and after artificial aging.

Materials And Methods: Sixty experimental groups of elastomers were made using various concentrations (5%, 10%, and 15%) of 4 opacifiers (Georgia kaolin powder neutral, kaolin powder calcined, Artskin white, and dry pigment titanium white) with 1 of 5 dry earth cosmetic pigment groups (no pigment [control], red, yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and a mixture of all pigments). Five specimens of each elastomer were tested, for a total of 300 specimens.

Locking retentive attachment for an implant-retained auricular prosthesis.

This article describes the use of the Slant-Lock retention system with an implant-retained auricular prosthesis.

Modification of the Barton button for tracheoesophageal speech: an innovative maxillofacial prosthetic technique.

Laryngectomized, tracheoesophageal speakers who achieve hands-free speech wear a special breathing valve to automatically shunt air into the pharyngoesophagus for speech production. The standard method of attachment is adherence to the peristomal skin with glues and adhesives. The Barton button is a simpler, more efficient alternative that provides intraluminal attachment within the trachea.

Anterior key method for indexing orbital prostheses.

This article describes a predictable method for indexing the ocular portion of an orbital prosthesis. Because indexing is performed from the anterior aspect of the cast, damage is minimized, fewer modifications are required, and the mold can be preserved for repeated use.