• Niyom Thamrongananskul D.D.S., Ph.D. (Oral Biology)
• Kalaya Udom H.Sc. (Nursing)
• Piyawat Phankosol D.D.S., MS., Ph.D. (Dental Science)

Objective To study the satisfaction and feeling of the partial maxillectomy patients after intra-oral
prosthesis rehabilitation in the field of function, esthetic, and self-confident.

Materials and methods Twenty five maxillectomy patients were asked to answer the questionnaires
which composed of three parts: 1. general information 2. medical and dental history, and 3. satisfaction
and feeling including insertion, eating, sealing, speech, esthetic, self-confidence, and discouraging after
the surgery. The answers of satisfaction and feeling were divided into three levels: least, modulate, and
most. The percentage of data was collected.

Results The respondents were 14 males and 11 females with average 42.0 ± 3.7 year old. Most patients
lived with their families. Thirty two percentages of patients employed before surgery were unemployed.
Sixty four percent of the prostheses were acrylic resin base while the others were metal base. Most of
the patients were satisfied in the high to modulate level with the prostheses in their function: insertion
easily, eating soft food, sealing ability, speech distinctively, and improval of facial appearance.
However, there were some patients who were unsatisfied with the prostheses, felt discouraging after
surgery and wanted the counseling from staffs.

Conclusion From the answers of the 25 items of questionnaires of the patients who received oral
rehabilitation, most of them were satisfied at the high level for using the prostheses but there were some
who were unsatisfied. The results are beneficial for improving the quality of life and treatment of
maxillectomy patients.

(CU Dent J. 2008;31:305-14)