Quality of life and assessment of functioning of obturator utilizing obturator function scale after maxillectomy

Abstract

Objective: To assess the obturator functioning in maxillofacial patients with obturator prostheses after the surgical treatment of the maxilla (maxillectomy) for the treatment of oral cancer. Setting: Dr Ziauddin Ahmad Dental College and Hospital. Methods: 30 patients were taken for the study. A questionnaire 'Obturator Functioning Scale' developed at "Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre New York, USA", consists of 15 questions was given to these patients after the insertion of the obturator used by them for at least 3 weeks. 5-point Likert scale was used for recording the responses for all the questions. The problems experienced with the frequent use of obturator prosthesis by the patients were presented in the form of percentage and frequency. Result: The patients face different problems by using the obturators, but the commonly faced problem is difficulty in chewing food which is followed by xerostomia (dry mouth). Other problems encountered during the use of obturators are leakage during swallowing food, numbness in the upper lip, patients avoid going in family and social events and functions, face difficulties while inserting obturator, during talking in public, pronouncing different words, talking on the phone, nasal speech. Patients also complain about change of voice before and after the surgery, a noticeable clasp of obturator on front teeth, weird look or dissatisfaction with a look while using the obturator. Conclusion: The results suggest that obturator prosthesis serves the functions of speech and esthetics very well but it is not very efficient in terms of mastication and swallowing.