Utilizing orthodontic appliances to retain and disguise a pediatric maxillary obturator throughout growth.

Unique challenges are encountered when providing an obturator for an adolescent patient. Challenges include the need to modify the obturator throughout growth, engaging the mixed dentition or partially erupted teeth with minimal undercuts, the psychosocial challenges of an actively maturing patient, and the possible need for coincidental orthodontic therapy. This clinical report describes the ongoing rehabilitation of a patient who presented at the age of 10 with a biopsy-confirmed palatal mucoepidermoid carcinoma. Incorporating orthodontic brackets for retention of innovative adjustable obturator clasps allowed for the favorable function of the obturator prosthesis and the ability to alter the prosthesis over time.

Getting to know today's maxillofacial prosthodontist.

Maxillofacial prosthetics (MFP) is a subspecialty of prosthodontics that focuses on the management of complex craniofacial prosthetic rehabilitation. With advancements in treatment techniques and technology, the MFP specialist's roles have also evolved. This presentation describes who today's maxillofacial prosthodontists are, what they do, and how they care for the special population of patients with complex and unique needs.

Interdisciplinary rehabilitation of a primary intraosseous carcinoma including orthodontic archform management.

Squamous cell carcinomas arising from keratocystic odontogentic tumors are a rare phenomenon in head and neck cancer, accounting for only 1.45% of oral squamous cell carcinomas, and are classified as primary intraosseous carninomas. This cancer is locally aggressive, has a high potential for recurrence, and requires radical resection and subsequent rehabilitation. This case report describes a patient diagnosed with this uncommon tumor who was treated by dental specialists at Mayo Clinic. During convalescence, orthodontic changes to the maxillary dental archform were observed secondary to alterations in the soft tissue equilibrium following mandibulectomy and reconstruction with a microvascular fibula free flap. This highlights the need for treatment plan adaptability, the role of orthodontists in maintenance or treatment of pre-resection archforms, and the interdisciplinary nature necessary in managing the complex oncologic, functional, and esthetic needs in patients undergoing treatment for head and neck cancer.

The Case for Improved Interprofessional Care: Fatal Analgesic Overdose Secondary to Acute Dental Pain during Pregnancy.

Prenatal oral health extends beyond the oral cavity, impacting the general well-being of the pregnant patient and her fetus. This case report follows a 19-year-old pregnant female presenting with acute liver failure secondary to acetaminophen overdose for management of dental pain following extensive dental procedures. Through the course of her illness, the patient suffered adverse outcomes including fetal demise, acute kidney injury, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, and septic shock before eventual death from multiple organ failure. In managing the pregnant patient, healthcare providers, including physicians and dentists, must recognize and optimize the interconnected relationships shared by the health disciplines. An interdisciplinary approach of collaborative and coordinated care, the timing, sequence, and treatment for the pregnant patient can be improved and thereby maximize overall quality of health. Continued efforts toward integrating oral health into general healthcare education through interprofessional education and practice are necessary to enhance the quality of care that will benefit all patients.