Maxillary obturator: a clinical case report.

The most frequent openings of the maxilla result from cleft palates or tumors that require either partial or total surgical removal of the palate. Intraoral defects in the maxilla can cause an opening into the nasopharynx complex. Cleft palates or surgically removed tumors can have a devastating effect on a patient's appearance and speech.

Rotational path removable partial denture: an esthetic alternative.

Missing teeth can be replaced using any of a number of methods. Patients may choose to replace missing teeth with a prosthesis that is either removable, fixed, or retained with implants. When it is necessary to replace anterior or posterior teeth, a properly designed and fabricated rotational path removable partial denture can be both successful and esthetically pleasing to the patient.

PMMA: an essential material in medicine and dentistry.

The first use of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) as a dental device was for the fabrication of complete denture bases. Its qualities of biocompatibility, reliability, relative ease of manipulation, and low toxicity were soon seized upon and incorporated by many different medical specialties. PMMA has been used for (a) bone cements; (b) contact and intraocular lens; (c) screw fixation in bone; (d) filler for bone cavities and skull defects; and (e) vertebrae stabilization in osteoporotic patients.

Elder abuse update.

The following article offers an update on the topic of elder abuse. As the baby boomer generation ages, the number of elderly patients seeking all forms of dentistry will increase. This article is designed to inform dentists of their responsibility to the entire health of their patients.

Dental management of liver transplant patients.

Dentists are responsible for understanding treatment regimens concerning a myriad of health issues. Increasingly, patients who have significant liver disease or have undergone liver transplant therapy will seek either preoperative or postoperative care. This article reviews current protocols for managing these patients.