Maxillofacial Prosthetics
Pronunciation: mak-sil-oh-FAY-shul
The branch of prosthodontics dealing with the rehabilitation of patients with acquired or congenital defects of the head, face, and neck using prosthetic devices.
Full Definition
Maxillofacial prosthetics encompasses the fabrication and fitting of obturators, orbital, auricular, and nasal prostheses, as well as speech-aid prostheses and other devices for patients who have undergone surgical resection, trauma, or who have developmental defects of the craniofacial region. Editors working with this subspecialty encounter highly specific terminology such as 'obturator', 'resection prosthesis', 'interim prosthesis', and 'definitive prosthesis'. The term is always hyphenated (maxillofacial) and applies to both surgical and prosthetic disciplines. Distinction from 'oral and maxillofacial surgery' is important: surgeons resect; prosthodontists reconstruct with prostheses.
Usage
Usage note: Always hyphenated. Do not confuse this subspecialty with 'oral and maxillofacial surgery', which is a surgical discipline. Editors should verify whether a described device is intraoral or extraoral.
In Context
- "The patient was referred to the maxillofacial prosthetics department following hemimaxillectomy." — Oncology-prosthodontic referral letter
- "An auricular prosthesis retained by craniofacial implants was designed by the maxillofacial prosthetics team." — Multidisciplinary rehabilitation case report