1992 Volume 38 Issue 5 Pages 775-782
We estimated the cosmetic appearance of the face, clearness of articulation and chewing function in 30 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the lower gum or oral floor who had received marginal, segmental resection or hemisection of the mandible. We also investigated the number of the patients who were using the denture after the operation. The post-operative cosmetic appearance and oral functions were estimated by both the patients themselves and the dentists in this study.
The cosmetic appearance of the face and the chewing function were better in the patients who had received the marginal resection than in the segmental resection or hemisection in contrast to no obvious difference in the clearness of articulation regardless of the type of the resections. This result indicates that the continuity of the mandible is important to keep or restore the cosmetic appearance and the chewing function.
On the other hand, only 13 out of the 30 patients were using the post-operative denture. It would be necessary to let the patients make use of the post-operative denture with better retention and stability in order to keep or restore the post-operative oral function.
