Fabricating an Obturator Using Rapid Prototyping to Design the Framework: A Case Report

Abstract

Congenital or acquired maxillary defects cause various esthetic and functional problems. Maxillary deficiency can be prosthetically restored with an obturator. Computer-aided design/computer-assisted manufacture technology, which had been used exclusively in fixed prosthodontics, is now being more widely used in other fields, including removable prosthodontics, after the introduction of software and availability of a comprehensive solution for designing and manufacturing a removable partial denture (RPD). The rapid prototyping (RP) technique enables precise fabrication of the RPD framework in a shorter time period compared to conventional methods. This case report describes the fabrication of an obturator using the RP technique in a patient who underwent hemimaxillectomy of the soft palate.