Anyone had a surgical palatal obturator during surgery?

@jadwyer
Hello,
No, I haven't. I am aware a prosthetic can be made after surgery & post.
May I ask type of HNC?
I had tongue & lymph node.
@zenren14

@zenren14 mine is polymorphus adenocarcinoma. It is fairly rare and it is in upper right between hard and soft palate. It is very slow growing, hasn’t spread anywhere and not likely to so that is good! But during surgery to remove the tumor, they will but an obturator device in to close the big hole so I can speak and eat.

@jadwyer
Hang in there, you have good support here.

@jadwyer let us know how it works for you. Husband will hopefully be fitted with palate obturator next month and we are hoping it will help with the 2cm hole in his small palate. They did not do it during surgery.

May 7 2024 I had surgery at U of M (Michigan) for right palatal SCC with bone invasion. Surgeon removed 5 teeth to get to tumor and a zygmoid implant was done by the dentist while in surgery. Surgery left a whole in the palate and a temporary obturator was put in place. From what I remember, it was mostly gauze. I had a temporary obturator put in when this had healed. I am on my third one. Next week I am having a restoration to the zygmotic implant done. Hopefully this will make the obturator stay in place and take care of some or all of the leakage. Life with an obturator is difficult

@pamelaaci

I don't know how extensive the surgical obturator will be. I hope you husband advances well . How was the surgery and how did he do?

@jadwyer he did well with the surgery. 7 nights in the hospital and then puréed food for about 3 weeks. Eating after that with no issues however liquids/water are a problem unless very small sips to avoid aspiration.

@pamelaaci did he have a neck dissection or did they go down his mouth? I think they said only one night in the hospital unless they had to do a more extensive surgery so we will see. These things are expensive and the doctor who makes them only files dental, which caps out at $2000. Can your husband speak ? The device is supposed to help with that, too. I am sorry he and you are having to go through this!

@jadwyer They operated on the small palate through his mouth but also slit his throat to pull out all the lymph nodes to be sure nothing was left behind. Throat scar has healed very well. Yes, he speaks well, but they warned it would be more nasal voice and it is more nasal (due to the 2 cm hole in the back of his mouth) . Hopefully the device will stop the aspiration with liquids and from what they say will help correct the more nasal sound. What is frustrating is when drinks more than small sips some of the liquid runs down his nose, therefore won't drink anything without having a paper towel nearby.....Hoping your surgery goes well!