Rehabilitation of oncology patients with hard palate defects. Part 1: The surgical planning phase.

This article is the first in a series of three papers that will discuss the conventional non-implant retained prosthodontic rehabilitation of oncology patients with surgically acquired hard palate defects. In this first paper, the dental challenges posed by the oncology patients will briefly be discussed. The interface between the specialist restorative dentist and the maxillofacial surgeon when planning the conventional dental rehabilitation of an oncology patient with a hard palate defect will be discussed in detail. Clinical Relevance: To highlight the importance of the restorative dentistry/surgical interface when planning a treatment for a patient requiring a maxillectomy and conventional obturation.