Abstract
This review article examines the relationship between maxillofacial prosthetic treatment and oral function research, based on the author’s 35 years of experience. Expanding the field of view from prosthetic treatment to feeding and swallowing rehabilitation and working in a multidisciplinary team system were ultimately beneficial in improving maxillofacial prosthetic treatment. Research themes discovered through clinical practice included objective evaluation of the effects of wearing a dento-maxillary prosthesis during mastication and conversation, and measurement of tongue pressure during these functions. As a prerequisite for such objective functional evaluation, it is important to understand functional problems based on the patient’s subjectivity. It is expected that the Japanese Academy of Maxillofacial Prosthetics will work to disseminate basic techniques and strengthen collaboration with related medical fields.
