Oral and maxillofacial reconstruction involves surgical procedures to restore the shape and appearance of the structures of your face and mouth after head and neck cancer, congenital and developmental conditions or traumatic injuries.
Oral and facial injuries, especially for patients with head and neck cancers, includes not only treating the disease itself, but also restoring any parts of your face or mouth affected by treatment. People who choose oral and facial reconstruction report feeling and looking better after their head and neck cancer experience.
Our advanced approach to treatment also results in faster functional recovery, improved esthetics and health, and a better quality of life for patients.
Prosthodontics and Facial Prosthetics
The Penn Maxillofacial Prosthodontics Clinic provides the highest volume of prosthodontic maxillofacial care in the region, and is among the top clinics in the nation.
As a high-volume clinic, our specialists routinely perform procedures that may be done only occasionally at other locations. Studies have shown that surgeons who perform higher volumes of procedures are more likely to deliver the best possible outcomes for patients.
We offer several prosthetic approaches depending on your individual needs, including:
- Facial Prosthesis
- Mandibular Resection Prosthesis
- Obturator Prosthesis
- Palatal Augmentation (Drop) Prosthesis
- Palatal Lift Prosthesis
- Zygomatic Implants
Facial Prosthesis
Facial prosthetics artificially replace parts of your face, including the ears and nose, that may be missing or were injured because of surgery, trauma or a congenital absence.
Mandibular Resection Prosthesis
Mandibular resection prosthesis helps to maintain the position of your jaws (maxillae and mandible) to improve speech and swallowing after trauma or surgery to your mandible or nearby parts of your mouth.
Obturator Prosthesis
An obturator prosthesis is used to close, cover, or maintain the inside of your mouth or nose. This type of prosthesis can help people with conditions such as cancer, cleft palate, or bone death due to radiation of the palate (osteoradionecrosis).
This type of prosthetic device replaces tissues that were lost because of a disease, treatment or defect, and can improve speech, swallowing and chewing.
Palatal Lift Prosthesis
A palatal lift prosthesis elevates your soft palate and helps restore its functions that were lost because of an acquired, congenital or developmental defect. This type of prosthesis can help improve speech and swallowing.
Palatal Augmentation (Drop) Prosthesis
A palatal augmentation (drop) prosthesis changes your hard and/or soft palate to improve your tongue’s mobility. This affects the way your tongue and palate make contact and can improve speech and swallowing.
Zygomatic Implants
Zygomatic implants are used to correct severe bone loss (atrophy) or defects in the upper part of your jaw (maxillae). These implants are an alternative to bone grafting, and allow for shorter treatment times and significantly faster improvement in quality of life.