Guide the Mandible Back Home: Guide Flange Prosthesis

Abstract

Following mandibular resection, restoration of function is usually not possible and prolonged disfigurement is inevitable. By the use of a guide flange initially followed by prosthetic rehabilitation, function can be restored to normal physiological limits with little disfigurement. The basic rehabilitation objective is to train 
the mandibular muscles and to re-establish an acceptable occlusal relationship so that the patient can adequately control opening and closing mandibular movements. During the initial healing period following mandibular resection early prosthodontic intervention by mandibular guide flange and maxillary stabilization prosthesis serve the purpose of reducing the mandibular deviation, preventing extrusion of teeth and improving the masticatory efficiency. This article describes the initial prosthodontic rehabilitation of two cases with two different types of ‘Guide flange prosthesis’.