Therapeutic effects of maxillofacial prostheses

Area of Science:

• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Prosthodontics
• Psychology

Background:

• Maxillofacial defects significantly impact patients' psychological well-being, affecting self-image and overall health perception.
• Prosthetic rehabilitation is a common approach to restoring form and function after maxillofacial defects.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the psychological impact of maxillofacial prosthetic rehabilitation on patients.
• To identify factors influencing the success of prosthetic rehabilitation in different patient groups.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 39 patients with maxillofacial defects underwent prosthetic rehabilitation.
• Psychological assessments using questionnaires were conducted before and after rehabilitation, measuring self-image, optimism, and health feelings.

Main Results:

• 33 out of 39 patients reported favorable psychological responses post-rehabilitation.
• Psychological improvement was most significant in patients with defects caused by trauma.
• Patients with congenital malformations showed less improvement, and oncologic patients exhibited minimal average change.

Conclusions:

• Maxillofacial prostheses can positively influence psychological outcomes for many patients.
• The etiology of the maxillofacial defect influences the effectiveness of prosthetic rehabilitation.
• Successful rehabilitation for oncologic patients necessitates comprehensive care beyond prosthetic fitting, addressing psychological and potentially other needs.