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The Glossary of Prosthodontics Terms (2005) defines the term "Obturator" [ob·tu·ra·tor \o˘b′ta-rā′tar\ n (ca. 1727)] as:  1. a maxillofacial prosthesis used to close a congenital or acquired tissue opening, primarily of the hard palate and/or contiguous alveolar/soft tissue structures (GPT7) - 2. that component of a prosthesis which fits into and closes a defect within the oral cavity or other body defect
- 3. a maxillofacial prosthesis used to close, cover or maintain the integrity of the oral and nasal compartments resulting from a congenital, acquired or developmental disease process, i.e., cancer, cleft palate, osteoradionecrosis of the palate. The prosthesis facilitates speech and deglutition by replacing those tissues lost due to the disease process and can, as a result, reduce nasal regurgitation and hypernasal speech, improve articulation, deglutition and mastication. An obturator prosthesis is classified as surgical, interim or definitive and reflects the intervention time period used in the maxillofacial rehabilitation of the patient. Prosthetic restoration of a defect often includes use of a surgical obturator, interim obturator, and definitive obturator.
Reference: Volume 94, Issue 1, Pages 10-92 (July 2005)
Types: definitive obturator \di˘-fi˘n′i˘-ti˘v o˘b′ta-rā′ter\: a maxillofacial prosthesis that replaces part or all of the maxilla and associated teeth lost due to surgery or trauma Editorial note: a definitive obturator is made when it is deemed that further tissue changes or recurrence of tumor are unlikely and a more permanent prosthetic rehabilitation can be achieved; it is intended for long- term use interim obturator \i˘n′ter-i˘m o˘b′ta-rā′tor\: a maxillofacial prosthesis which is made following completion of initial healing following surgical resection of a portion or all of one or both maxillae; frequently many or all teeth in the defect area are replaced by this prosthesis. This prosthesis replaces the surgical obturator which is usually inserted at or immediately following the resection. Generally, an interim obturator is made to facilitate closure of the resultant defect after initial healing has been completed. Editorial Note: Unlike the surgical obturator, which usually is made prior to surgery and frequently revised in the operating room during surgery, the interim obturator is made when the defect margins are clearly defined and further surgical revisions are not planned. It is a provisional prosthesis… Also, it frequently must be revised (termed an obturator prosthesis modification) during subsequent dental procedures (i.e. restorations, gingival surgery, etc.) as well as to compensate for further tissue shrinkage before a definitive obturator prosthesis is made. surgical obturator \sûr′ji˘-kal o˘b′ta-rā′tor\: a temporary maxillofacial prosthesis inserted during or immediately following surgical or traumatic loss of a portion or all of one or both maxillary bones and contiguous alveolar structures (i.e. gingival tissue, teeth). Frequent revisions of surgical obturators are necessary during the ensuing healing phase (approximately six months). Some dentists prefer to replace many or all teeth removed by the surgical procedure with the surgical obturator, while others do not replace any teeth. Further surgical revisions may require fabrication of another surgical obturator (i.e., an initially planned small defect may be revised and greatly enlarged after the final pathologic report indicates margins are not free of tumor)—see INTERIM OBTURATOR Reference: Volume 94, Issue 1, Pages 10-92 (July 2005) FEATURED RESOURCES: | | | Won-suck Oh, DDS, MS,a and Eleni Roumanas, DDSb University of California, Los Angeles, School of Dentistry, Los Angeles, California | | | | | | | | |  | | Kulashekar N Reddy, IN Aparna, Veena - HegdeThe Journal of Indian Prosthodontic Society, Year 2008, Volume 8, Issue 4
| | | | | | | | | | | | Won-suck Oh, DDS, MS1 & Eleni D. Roumanas, DDS2 |
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