What Is Maxillofacial Prosthodontics?
Maxillofacial prosthodontics focuses on rehabilitating patients with defects or disabilities affecting the mouth, face, head, or neck, whether present at birth or acquired through trauma or disease. Treatment often combines medically necessary prostheses with comprehensive dental care in South Bay, including dental implants, to improve quality of life and restore speech, chewing, swallowing, and facial support.
This specialized discipline falls within prosthodontics but requires additional clinical training and experience. In many cases, treatment planning overlaps with advanced implant dentistry, including Full-Arch Implant solutions and All-on-X approaches when significant tooth loss or jaw compromise is present. Maxillofacial prosthodontists frequently work as part of a multidisciplinary healthcare team to provide comprehensive, coordinated care.
Restoring Function and Identity
Many patients who benefit from maxillofacial prosthodontics include individuals with craniofacial defects and head and neck cancer survivors. These patients often experience challenges with basic life functions such as speaking, chewing, and swallowing, as well as significant emotional and psychological effects related to facial changes.
Head and neck cancers account for approximately 70,000 new cases each year, and a large percentage result in facial disfigurement or compromised oral function. Treatment side effects from surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy can lead to long-term structural and functional issues that require ongoing restorative dental care. Implant-supported restorations, including dental implants and full-arch solutions, may play an important role in rebuilding stability, comfort, and confidence.
Whether these conditions are congenital or acquired, they affect both physical function and personal identity. Maxillofacial prosthodontics helps patients regain independence, restore daily function, and improve overall quality of life.
Managing Acute and Ongoing Conditions
Maxillofacial prosthodontists play an essential role in managing both short-term and long-term complications related to medical treatment, including:
- Complications from radiation therapy such as cavities and bone loss
- Side effects of medical therapies, including immunotherapy
- Altered taste sensation (dysgeusia)
- Swallowing difficulties (dysphagia)
- Burning mouth syndrome
- Dry mouth (xerostomia)
- Speech challenges
- Oral mucositis
- Limited jaw movement (trismus)
- Complications from radiation therapy such as cavities and bone loss
- Side effects of medical therapies, including immunotherapy
- Altered taste sensation (dysgeusia)
- Swallowing difficulties (dysphagia)
- Burning mouth syndrome
- Dry mouth (xerostomia)
- Speech challenges
- Oral mucositis
- Limited jaw movement (trismus)
Custom prostheses and implant-supported restorations can help manage these conditions, protect oral structures, and reduce the risk of further damage. Thoughtful restorative dental care can make a meaningful difference for patients facing complex medical challenges.
Prostheses We Offer
Our practice provides a wide range of maxillofacial prosthetic solutions, often working alongside dental implants and Full-Arch Implant planning when appropriate. Prostheses we commonly provide include:
- Interim and definitive obturator
- Palatal lift prosthesis
- Surgical obturator prosthesis
- Palatal augmentation prosthesis
- Mandibular resection prosthesis
- Radiation shields
- Fluoride carriers
- Interim and definitive obturator
- Palatal lift prosthesis
- Surgical obturator prosthesis
- Mandibular resection prosthesis
- Radiation shields
- Palatal augmentation prosthesis
- Fluoride carriers
If you or your patient need a maxillofacial prosthesis not listed here, we invite you to contact us to ask. The odds are good that we can help you.
Why Choose South Bay Prosthodontics
South Bay Prosthodontics is a well-established specialty practice known for delivering advanced prosthodontic and implant-based care. We are equipped to manage complex maxillofacial prosthodontic cases while also providing comprehensive restorative dental care, including dental implants, All-on-X planning, and Full-Arch Implant solutions when indicated.
In addition to in-office expertise, we maintain strong professional relationships with general dentists, periodontists, surgeons, and implant providers throughout the region. This allows us to coordinate complete care or focus on a specific maxillofacial prosthodontic role, depending on each patient’s needs.
Looking for Maxillofacial Prosthodontics in Torrance, CA?
Whether you are a patient or a healthcare provider seeking maxillofacial prosthodontics, dental implants, or advanced restorative dental care in the Los Angeles area, South Bay Prosthodontics can help.
Please call (310) 378-9261 to contact our Torrance, CA dental office.
