Maxillofacial Prosthodontics in Oncology: A Narrative Review on Prosthetic Rehabilitation, Function Restoration, and Quality-of-Life Enhancement

Prosthodontics is a specialized branch of dentistry focused on the diagnosis, treatment planning, rehabilitation, and maintenance of oral function, comfort, esthetics, and overall health in patients with missing or deficient teeth and maxillofacial structures. Maxillofacial prosthodontics, a vital subdiscipline, plays a crucial role in restoring facial and oral defects resulting from cancer ablation surgeries, congenital anomalies, trauma, or other pathological conditions. It aims to re-establish essential functions such as mastication, speech, swallowing, and facial esthetics using biocompatible prosthetic substitutes. Maxillofacial prostheses may be classified as intraoral or extraoral. Intraoral prostheses include obturators, palatal lift devices, palatal augmentation prostheses, speech-aid prostheses, feeding aids, and mandibular resection or guide flange prostheses. Extraoral prostheses encompass ocular, nasal, auricular, cranial, and facial segmental prostheses, as well as nasal stents. These devices not only support postsurgical rehabilitation but also assist in ongoing cancer therapy. For example, jaw-positioning stents and fluoride carriers enhance outcomes during chemoradiation therapy by improving patient comfort and reducing complications. The primary goals of maxillofacial prosthetics include preservation of remaining structures, restoration of function, improvement of facial form, facilitation of healing, and enhancement of psychological well-being. Beyond physical rehabilitation, these prostheses significantly elevate the patient’s quality of life by reducing the emotional and psychological burden associated with cancer treatment. Successful rehabilitation requires a collaborative, multidisciplinary effort involving maxillofacial prosthodontists, oral surgeons, oncologists, laboratory technicians, and other specialists. The choice of materials—such as silicone elastomers, acrylic resins, and various copolymers—plays a critical role in achieving optimal esthetics, durability, and biocompatibility. Ultimately, factors such as support, stability, and osseointegration determine the long-term success and functionality of maxillofacial prostheses.