Assessment of Oral Stereognostic Ability in the Post-maxillectomy Patient

Abstract

Sensory and motor feedback is an important component of the masticatory process. The palate is a key part of this feedback, being one of the most densely innervated parts of the oral cavity and an important organ in oral functions such as mastication, swallowing and speech. Maxillary defects therefore cause difficulties in both sensation and functionality, but these can be recovered by supplying maxillary obturator prostheses.
Oral stereognostic ability （OSA） is one of these sensations and is dependent on an interaction between the palate and tongue. This clinical study investigated the influence of maxillary defects on OSA, and the effects of maxillary obturator prostheses in the OSA of post-maxillectomy patients.
OSA in post-maxillectomy patients with remaining maxillary defects was compared with that in healthy subjects. These comparisons reveal that maxillary defects cause OSA to decline, whereas the maxillary obturator prosthesis recovers OSA to normal levels. This suggests that maxillary obturator prostheses improve not only oral functionality but also oral stereognostic ability.