Prosthetic and surgical management of osteogenic sarcoma of the maxilla

Maxillary surgical defects resulting from resection of oral neoplasms vary in size from small perforations of the hard and soft palate to complete removal of these structures. Osteogenic sarcoma is of unknown etiology and is a rapidly growing tumor that may produce pain, paresthesia, and anesthesia. The recommended treatment of radical resection often results in defects that produce significant orofacial disfigurement. These defects, regardless of size, present significant functional disability, with compromised esthetics, mastication, and deglutition. Restoration with a maxillary obturator prosthesis can reestablish the physical separation between oral and nasal cavities and, in soft palate defects, enable normal palatopharyngeal function. Most patients can be rehabilitated successfully with restoration of speech and swallowing to normal levels and significant improvement in appearance.