EVALUATION OF MICROBIAL ADHESIONS AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN MAXILLECTOMY PATIENTS REHABILITATED WITH COBALT-CHROMIUM AND THERMOPLASTIC OBTURATORS

Objective: The purpose of the this study was to evaluate the oral microbial adhesions and quality of life in Maxillectomy patients after rehabilitation with two types of maxillofacial obturators: Thermopress & Cobalt- Chromium obturators.Materials and Methods: Type of study: Randomized clinical trial (RCT) Ten hemi-maxillectomy patients were taken from the out-patient clinic of the national Institute. Patients Grouping: Patients were randomly divided into two equal groups. Group-I: Five patients had received thermopress obturators. Group–II: patients were rehabilitated with cobalt chromium & polymethyl methacrylate obturators. - Microbial adhesions of viable microorganisms in the accumulating biofilm layer on Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) & Thermopress obturator bulb surfaces were determined along four weeks period & converted to Colonies Forming Units (CFU) per cm2 unit surface area . -QOL was evaluated according to the Obturator Functioning Scale’ (OFS). questionnaire by direct interviews with the patients at the end of four weeks period.Results: The results of this study revealed that the microbial adhesions showed statistically significant increase in Group-I patients compared to Group-II; On the other hand, the patient’s quality of life in Group-I recorded higher values in the examined domains than Group- II patients.Conclusion: Within the limitations of this study; it may be concluded that: Thermopress material may induce more microbial adhesions than Cobalt chromium &PMMA ones. Thermoplastic obturators may provide maxillectomy patients better esthetics, speech & social interaction than metalic obturators with conventional PMMA.