Prosthetic Rehabilitation of Oral Cancer Patients: a Survey

The objective of this study was to highlight the importance of Maxillofacial Prosthesis in the management of Oral Caner after the surgical resection. It was an observational hospital based study conducted at Prosthetic department of de,Montmorancy College of Dentistry, Lahore in collaboration with Inmole Hospital, Lahore over a period of one year. Out of a total of 2036 cancer patients, 125 patients, were found to have a cancer of oral and maxillofacial region, and they were included in the study. The patients who were treated surgically were further examined and analysed for possible prosthetic rehabilitation. Of all the cancer patients 6% were found to have oral cancers. The tongue cancer was the most common, seen in 33 (26.4%) cases; the cheek cancer was found in 21 (16.8%), the parotid gland cancer in 20 (16%) while nasal cancer and that of the floor of the mouth were seen in 15 (12%) of cases each. The cancer oflip (4.8%) ear (2.4%) and soft palate (1.6%) made a little contribution. The results obtained from this study showed that at least half of the surgically treated oral cancer patients could have been successfully rehabilitated by different prosthesis, but many never received any.