Tuesday, 27 September 2011

Bite Guide Prosthesis / Guided palatal Plate (GPP)

Bite Guide prosthesis is given in patients who have undergone hemimandibulectomy.

Hemimandibulectomy is the surgical procedure in which Oncosurgeons remove portion of the lower jaw (i.e. Mandible) affected by neoplasm (Cancer / Tumor).

In these patients, the mandibular movement gets affected. The unresected portion of the mandible (Lower jaw) moves  towards surgical side making it difficult for the patient to chew and speak.
The patient cannot chew any thing as repeatedly the jaw gets deviated affecting his nutrition and thus overall health.

Bite guide prosthesis or guided palatal plate prosthesis is a simple but effective solution for these patients.
It is made up of  metal alloy, (economical one can be manufactured by using acrylic resin), and restricts the abnormal mandibular movements towards surgical side.

The GPP should be provided within first week of ablative surgery as it avoids supra eruption of teeth and muscle contraction due to surgical scarring.
GPP should be used at least for 6 months after surgery, to avoid jaw deviation.
GPP can be fabricated by a trained prosthodontist / a Cancer - Dentist / prosthetic Oncologist.
In Mumbai, GPP is fabricated at our dental center for cancer patients, Ace Dental Solutions, opposite Telephone exchange, Chembur naka, Chembur east, Mumbai.

Dr. Sandeep Gurav is a Prosthodontist and Implantologist who has undergone training at Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai for Dental treatments of Cancer patients.