PDF: Sectional Removable Partial Denture Design for the Treatment of Partial Mandibulectomy Patient: A Case Report


Surgical removal of tumors in the mandible may result in discontinuity of bone which may require surgical reconstruction of the defect to provide a suitable tissue foundation for an acceptable prosthesis.


Failure of reconstructive surgery for some mandibulectomy patients often make prosthetic rehabilitation extremely difficult. 

Due to financial constraints an acrylic sectional partial denture was fabricated for a class VI mandibular resection patient who had undergone anterior segmental mandibulectomy with no surgical reconstruction.



The case was challenging and the prosthesis was well tolerated during a 6 months follow-up review. 

Tumors in the mandible usually require surgical removal with or without resection of normal bone at the margins of the lesion. Smaller lesions removed without discontinuity of the bone are relatively simple to restore with prosthesis while larger lesions may be more difficult to restore even though the continuity of the mandible is maintained. 

The prognosis for edentulous segmental mandibulectomy patient becomes less favourable as the size of the resection increases. Success of prosthesis for resected edentulous mandibule is directly related to the amount of the remaining bone, the number and integrity of remaining teeth and continuity or discontinuity of the bone defect.


Frequently surgical reconstruction of the defect is required to re establish the continuity of the mandible through bone graft or to create a buccal or lingual sulcus to provide a suitable tissue foundation for an acceptable prosthesis Cantor and Curtis (1971). 

In addition, pre-prosthetic implant placement may be required to improve denture retention and stability. Failure of reconstructive surgery for mandibulectomy patients often makes prosthetic rehabilitation extremely difficult. 

The presence or absence of natural teeth in a resected mandible often determines the approach to prosthetic rehabilitation.


Cantor and Curtis (1971) classified edentulous mandibular resection patients by the amount of mandible that remains after resection and surgical reconstruction. Although the classification was suggested for edentulous patients, it is also applicable to partially edentulous patients. 

The classification aids the understanding of the treatment need of the patient and the challenges of prosthetic rehabilitation of mandibulectomy patient. 

This article describes the fabrication of an acrylic sectional denture for a class VI mandibular resection patient who had undergone anterior segmental mandibulectomy with no surgical reconstruction. 

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