What are the benefits of an obturator?
Several advantages can be achieved with obturators such as: replacing teeth as well as soft and hard tissues, allowing approximately normal speaking and swallowing for the patient. In addition, it prevent fluids leakage and communication between nasal and oral cavities.
How do you clean an obturator?
Obturator Care Use soap and water or denture paste on a brush to remove plaque. Stains can be removed with commercial soaking agents. Clean the obturator over 4-5 inches of water in a basin or sink to avoid damage to the obturator should it drop. Remove the prosthesis at night and place it in a container of water.
What is a mouth obturator?
What Is an Obturator? An obturator is a dental prosthesis used in patients who have suffered trauma to the roof of the mouth or have undergone surgery that has left a void or hole in the palate. This type of void, known as an oronasal fistula, occurs in the roof of the mouth and can hinder normal functions.
How does a palatal obturator work?
In simpler terms, a palatal obturator covers any fistulas (or “holes”) in the roof of the mouth that lead to the nasal cavity, providing the wearer with a plastic/acrylic, removable roof of the mouth, which aids in speech, eating, and proper air flow.
What is the purpose of a palatal lift prosthesis?
The Palatal Lift Prosthesis is made by a Maxillofacial Prosthodontist. This prosthesis elevates and assists in restoring soft palatal function which may be lost due to clefting, surgery, trauma, or unknown paralysis. It is used to achieve velopharyngeal competence or enhancing swallowing reflexes.
What conditions would require an obturator?
It is specifically used for those teeth, palates and gingiva, that have been damaged as a result of surgery, trauma, and other high impact damage involved. However, the obturator is only used for the upper and not the lower or anything surrounding the lower teeth.
Who needs a palatal lift?
A palatal lift prosthesis is a prosthesis that addresses a condition referred to as palatopharyngeal incompetence. Palatopharyngeal incompetence broadly refers to a muscular inability to sufficiently close the port between the nasopharynx and oropharynx during speech and/or swallowing.
What is a nasal obturator?
A nasal obturator is a prosthesis that helps to stop air escaping out of the nose during speech. Without this, speech can sound nasal and at times weak.
Do prosthodontists extract teeth?
Can a Prosthodontist Extract Teeth? Yes, they can do extractions. Patients need extractions in extreme cases where a tooth is severely damaged or where there is periodontal (gum) disease. Extractions may also be needed when preparing your mouth for restorative treatments such as implants or dentures, for example.
Do prosthodontists fill cavities?
What Procedures Does a Prosthodontist Do? Because every prosthodontist is fully trained and certified in general dentistry, at Kopp Dental, we can provide the full range of services available at any dental office. We can take care of cleanings, checkups, filling cavities, etc.
What are the benefits of a palatal obturator?
A palatal obturator can improve speech, proper air flow, eating, reduce regurgitation. People who use palatal obturators must be monitored regularly by their prosthodontist to insure continued effectiveness and comfort of the prosthesis. Read blog describing treatment for patients who sometimes require Palatal Obturators.
What is an obturator used for?
The obturators are prosthesis used to close palatal defects after maxillectomy, to restore masticatory function and to improve speech. The primary goals of the obturator prosthesis are to preserve the remaining teeth and tissue and to provide comfort, function, and aesthetics to the patients.
What happened to the roots of the palatal obturator?
The roots were removed, and after healing, a partial prosthesis with missing elements and with palatal obturator function were made (Figs. 88–10). The patient did not want to establish a correct chewing through a lower partial prosthesis. Open in a separate window Figure 5 Oral-nasal communication. Open in a separate window Figure 6
Do I need to have regular monitoring of my palatal obturator?
People who use palatal obturators must be monitored regularly by their prosthodontist to insure continued effectiveness and comfort of the prosthesis. Read blog describing treatment for patients who sometimes require Palatal Obturators.