Nasal prosthesis with magnetically secured intranasal framework for a patient with partial rhinectomy and intraoral...

Partial rhinectomy is a challenge for most maxillofacial prosthodontists, as retention of the prosthesis is a major issue to overcome. The scenario becomes even more difficult when there is an intraoral defect. This article describes the fabrication of a removable silicone nasal prosthesis and removable PMMA intraoral obturator prosthesis to rehabilitate a patient following partial rhinectomy with associated loss of premaxilla. The retention of removable intraoral and extraoral prosthesis was achieved partially from anatomical undercuts and further enhanced by rare earth magnets placed between both prostheses. An acrylic framework was fabricated and placed inside to provide rigidity to the nasal part of the prosthesis. A customized method of making impressions using a modified syringe tube to mold the inner surface of the nasal defect is described. The obturator function scale (OFS) questionnaire was used to measure the patient's satisfaction with the obturator. After insertion of the prosthesis, there was an overall improvement in the OFS of the patient.

This case report documents the rehabilitation of a patient following partial rhinectomy and associated loss of premaxilla with customized intraoral obturator prosthesis and a removable silicone nasal prosthesis. The successful outcome of this case shows that for people with similar orofacial defects, these prostheses are a good option to achieve acceptable esthetics, speech, and function.