Functional rehabilitation by a prosthesis for an edentulous patient after operating for tongue and oropharyngeal cancer: A case report

Abstract

Patient: The patient was a 73-year-old male who was edentulous and referred by a head and neck surgeon for fabrication of a palatal augmentation prosthesis (PAP). After operating for tongue and oropharyngeal cancer, reconstruction was performed using the femoral muscle. Partial tongue resection was performed for the tongue cancer, and quadriceps femoris flap reconstruction was performed after oropharyngectomy for the oropharyngeal cancer. In order to improve masticatory and swallowing function, eating functional training was conducted and a complete denture having a PAP was fabricated.

Discussion: At the three-year follow-up, it was found that the prosthodontic treatment together with eating functional training had improved the oral functions of mastication and swallowing, which allowed the patient to adopt a new prosthesis with a standard palatal form.

Conclusions: Both prosthodontic treatment and eating functional training improved oral functions such as mastication and swallowing for the patient who had undergone tongue and oropharyngeal resection.