Maxillofacial Prosthetics

Maxillofacial prosthetic rehabilitation forms an integral component of a comprehensive treatment program for patients undergoing surgical resection of head and neck cancer. The common goals of rehabilitation are restoration of speech, mastication, and swallowing, control of saliva, and restoration of facial deficits. Preoperative communication and discussion between the head and neck surgeon and the prosthodontist is crucial for optimal planning and achievement of a good functional and aesthetic outcome at various stages of treatment . The head and neck surgeon should be aware of the functional sequelae from loss of the structures being resected so that the patient's rehabilitation is planned even before the actual surgical procedure is undertaken.