Strategic use of obturator prostheses for the rehabilitation of oral cancer patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the current pandemic scenario, maxillofacial rehabilitation specialists involved with supportive care in cancer must transform its practice to cope with COVID-19 and improve protocols that could quickly return the oral function of complex cancer patients who cannot wait for surgical complex rehabilitation. This includes the role of the maxillofacial prosthodontist for the rehabilitation of surgically treated patients with maxillary cancers by the means of filling obturator prostheses that are considered an optimal scientific-based strategy to reduce hospital stay with excellent pain control, oral function (speech, swallowing, mastication, and facial esthetics), psychologic and quality of life outcomes for the patients following intraoral cancer resection. Therefore, the aim of this commentary was to bring new lights to the strategic use of obturator prostheses for the rehabilitation of oral cancer patients during the COVID-19 pandemic as well as to present a protocol for managing such cases.

Skeletal anchorage for everybody? a questionnaire study on frequency of use and clinical indications in daily practice.

AIM: The purpose of this survey was to determine how commonly, and in what clinical situations, German-based orthodontists use skeletal anchorage devices in daily clinical practice. METHOD: In early 2013, a set of questionnaires on the subject of skeletal anchorage devices was mailed to 2459 members of the German Orthodontic Society (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Kieferorthopädie, DGKFO). The questions dealt separately with mini screws (MSCs) and osseointegrated palatal implants (OPIs). The addresses were asked whether or not, as well as how frequently and in what clinical situations, they used these MSCs and/or OPIs, what their experience was, and to elaborate on their reasons for using or not using these devices. RESULTS: The rate of returned questionnaires was 48 %. To correctly interpret our data, it should be kept in mind that an unknown number of respondents did not distinguish between OPIs and palatally inserted MSCs. Overall, 62 % indicated that they did use MSCs and/or OPIs, although most of them (> 50 %) infrequently (≤ 2 new patients/3 months). Only ≤ 2 % were frequent users (> 2 new patients/week). While most users (> 70 %) indicated that their experience was mostly good, only ≤ 50 % considered the devices easy and trouble-free to use in daily clinical practice. The median percentage of insertion procedures conducted by the respondents themselves was 2 % for MSCs and 0 % for OPIs. Many of the non-users indicated that their treatment concept did not include suitable clinical indications (≥ 50 %), expressed skepticism about the success rates (56 % of MSC and 21 % of OPI non-users), or thought that the insertion procedures involved were too complex or time-consuming (33 % of MSC and 56 % of OPI non-users). CONCLUSION: A total of 62 % of German-based orthodontists participating in this survey indicated using skeletal anchorage devices, although most of them infrequently. Major reasons for non-use were lack of clinical indications, skepticism about the success rate of MSCs, and overly complex or time-consuming procedures of surgical OPI insertion.

An investigation into infant feeding in children born with a cleft lip and/or palate in the West of Scotland.

AIM: To investigate feeding practices in infants born with a cleft lip and/or palate (CLP) in the West of Scotland and the challenges that the parents of these children experienced especially in the first hours and months after birth. METHODS: A questionnaire involving a 'face-to-face' interview was completed with parents of cleft children under the age of 6 years with a cleft lip and/or palate attending the Oral Orthopaedic Prevention Clinic (OOPC). RESULTS: 90 questionnaires were completed and analysed. The incidence of breastfeeding in this study at birth was 54%. In comparison, the incidence of breastfeeding in Scotland nationally was 63% in the year 2000 and 70% in 2005 indicating a lower uptake of breastfeeding for this CLP population. Cleft type had a significant impact on whether the infant was breastfed (p<0.05), those with a cleft lip being more likely to be breastfed. Twenty-nine percent of cleft infants required the use of a naso-gastric tube (NGT) to assist feeding either in hospital during the days following birth or later when there were concerns about the infant's weight. Of these all but one had a CP+/- CL, (p<0.001); 26% of parents reported that their infant had used a pre-surgical appliance; 70% rated the appliance highly in terms of aiding feeding. The help and support given by the cleft team, especially Specialist Cleft Nurses (SCNs), was rated as positive in over 95% of cases but was less positive for the non-cleft health care professionals. Parents found it difficult to find the right feeding method for their baby until they received input from the SCNs and only a minority of parents managed to establish a regular feeding pattern. CONCLUSIONS: This study recommends the employment of more SCNs and an improvement of the knowledge of non-cleft health care professionals.

An access to care study for the pre-surgical nasoalveolar molding and other treatments for cleft lip and palate.

PURPOSE: This study is designed to ascertain whether a regional bias exists, as well as provide a reference to those seeking the various modalities used in pre-surgical intervention for cleft lip and palate either for their own patients or educational purposes. METHODS: A survey was constructed using Survey Monkey and distributed via e-mail to American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry members. Approximately 3689 surveys were delivered consisting of 12 questions asking whether they provide pre-surgical intervention to cleft lip and palate patients, and what type of interventions they use. RESULTS: A total of 572 members responded. Of the respondents, 480 reported they treat children affected by cleft lip and/or cleft palate. Of these, only 102 reported that they provide pre-surgical treatment. Pre-surgical nasoalveolar molding (PNAM) represented 29.2 percent of the interventions used and was most heavily concentrated in Texas. Other modalities used included the Latham appliance, lip adhesion/tacking, the passive appliance, and a category 'other' was included. Those checking 'other' most often described alveolar grafting prior to later surgical procedures than were of interest in this study. The University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio had the largest number of respondents using the PNAM. CONCLUSIONS: A very small proportion of pediatric dentists are providing pre-surgical intervention of any kind to patients with cleft lip and palate. However, those that are providing the service are spread around the country enough to consider PNAM as the standard of care for pre-surgical infant cleft treatment.

Avaliaçäo de pacientes portadores de disfunçäo velofaríngea tratados com prótese de palato / Evaluation of patients with velopharyngeal insufficiency treated with intraoral speech prostheses

Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar, por meio de um questionário, o julgamento de pacientes portadores de disfunçäo velofaríngea, tratados com prótese de palato, em relaçäo à mastigaçäo, à fala, à estabilidade, à estética, à comodidade e à qualidade de vida. Além disto, o trabalho comparou a inteligibilidade de fala nas condiçöes, com e sem a prótese de palato, pelo julgamento de 5 fonoaudiólogos. A amostra consistiu em 48 pacientes, com idades variando entre 8 e 74 anos (X = 31,47ñ16,03), sendo 42 com insuficiência velofaríngea devido à fissura palatina congênita operada ou näo, 2 com insuficiência velofaríngea devido à resseçäo total ou parcial do palato (casos que tiveram câncer) e 4 com incompetência velofaríngea devido à paralisia total ou parcial do palato mole. Os resultados do questionário mostraram que: 1) a maioria dos pacientes preferiu se alimentar usando a prótese (81,2 por cento); 2) a maioria relatou melhora da fala com a prótese (85,4 por cento); 3) a prótese ficou estável para a maioria dos pacientes, tanto na alimentaçäo (75 por cento), quanto na fala (91,7 por cento); 4) a maior parte dos pacientes (79,2 por cento) sentiu-se confortável em usar a prótese; 5) a estética com a prótese foi satisfatória para a maioria dos pacientes (97,9 por cento); 6) a qualidade de vida da maioria dos pacientes (85,4 por cento) melhorou com o uso da prótese. Em relaçäo ao julgamento da inteligibilidade de fala pelos 5 fonoaudiólogos, concluiu-se que os resultados na condiçäo, com próteses de palato, foram estatisticamente melhores que os resultados na condiçäo, sem prótese, concordando com o julgamento dos próprios pacientes

Rehabilitación con prótesis en maxilectomías por cáncer / Rehabilitation with prosthetic devices after maxillectomy for cancer

El defecto mas frecuente en la cavidad oral posterior a la cirugía ocurre en el maxilar. La rehabilitación del paciente depende básicamente de una prótesis conocida como obturador. Presentamos la experiencia de la Unidad de Bucodentomaxilofacial y del Servicio de Oncología del Hospital General de México, durante 1980 y 1991, con diferentes prótesis bucodentomaxilares. De 558 expedientes clínicos se seleccionó la información que permitió definir las indicaciones de las prótesis en pacientes con neoplasias malignas, especialmente en el maxilar

Maxillofacial prosthetics: vital signs.

A maxillofacial prosthetics survey was designed to record the response rate of prosthodontists regarding the frequency of maxillofacial procedures and insurance coverage in 1991. The survey explored variability with respect to membership in professional organizations, region, education, primary activity, and age of the prosthodontist. A total of 342 survey instruments were received from a total of 690 mailed. A total of 18,410 maxillofacial procedures were performed by the survey population. Members of the American Academy of Maxillofacial Prosthetics performed procedures at a significantly higher rate than did the members of the American College of Prosthodontists. A greater procedure rate was observed for prosthodontists in the South Midwest and Southwestern regions; the hospital setting; with 2 plus 1 year additional postgraduate maxillofacial training; and the 45- to 54-year age group. Insurance covered most maxillofacial procedures, but was not uniformly distributed within predictor variables nor between procedures.

Trends in prosthodontic treatment of cleft palate patients at one institution: a twenty-one year review.

This 21-year retrospective study evaluated the trends observed in the prosthodontic treatment of 269 patients. The patients were divided into three groups. The speech aid group consisted of 203 patients and showed a significant decrease in numbers over time. The maxillary obturator group consisted of 24 patients and did not show a significant change. The infant feeding prosthesis group consisted of 42 patients and showed a significant increase in numbers. Possible reasons for the trends observed are discussed.