An innovative approach to the prosthodontic management of Class III mandibular defect

Class III mandibular resection due to surgical treatment of jaw tumor produces a discontinuity in the mandible which is severely incapacitating to the patient. It leads to a deviation and rotation of the mandible which depends on the amount of tissues resected the manner of surgical site closure, loss of proprioceptive sense of occlusion, the presence, and condition of teeth, and the time of initiation of prosthodontic therapy. These put together makes the task of prosthodontic rehabilitation quite arduous. Guide flange prosthesis is a comparatively simple and cost-effective method of restoring the esthetics and function to an acceptable level. This clinical report describes an innovative and simplified approach to impression making (sectional two-step impression) to minimize trauma to the underlying and circumoral fragile tissues postsurgery, and to the fabrication of buccal guide flange (wrought wire supported and reinforced guide flange) for prosthetic rehabilitation of a patient with Class III mandibular resection.