Prosthetic replacement of bilateral maxillectomy.

A patient had an adenocystic carcinoma that involved both maxillary sinuses, the entire hard palate, and the lower third of both nasal chambers. Treatment consisted of bilateral maxillectomy and a split-thickness skin graft applied to the inside of the cheeks. A dental obturator constructed to fit undercuts in the surgical cavity allowed speech and swallowing. Because the patient objected to the sunken appearance of the upper lip, she obtained the central incisor portion of her late husband's upper denture and bonded this segment to the dental appliance. This achieved satisfactory cosmesis.