Maxillofacial prosthesis in a palliative care for terminally ill patient with squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract

A 55-year-old man with combined surgical and radiation therapy for buccal mucosa required the prosthetic rehabilitation for full thickness facial cheek defect. Apart from the aesthetics concerns, he had several oral debilities like difficulty in speaking, eating and swallowing. Though the carcinoma is known for high rates of morbidity and mortality, it is an obligation of a prosthodontist to help the patient to have a dignified and normal social life for their remaining lifespan. Palliative dental care's main focus is to re-establish the quality of the remaining life, in addition to the alleviation of physical and psychological suffering of the far-advanced disease patients. This case report summarises the importance of maxillofacial prosthesis in a postoperative malignancy and palliative care. Copyright 2013 BMJ Publishing Group. All rights reserved.