Quality of life after prosthodontic rehabilitation in patients with bilateral total maxillectomy due to COVID-19-associated mucormycosis of the maxilla

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-associated mucormycosis of the maxilla emerged as a significant concern in India during the second wave of the pandemic, necessitating surgical interventions such as maxillectomy. This study investigated the quality of life following prosthodontic rehabilitation with interim obturators in patients who underwent bilateral total maxillectomy due to COVID-19-associated mucormycosis of the jaws.

Methods: The study was conducted using questionnaire-based interviews administered by a single investigator employing the Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14) and Obturator Functioning Scale (OFS) questionnaires. Responses were evaluated on a Likert scale. All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 21.0 for Windows. A significance level of 5% was applied to all tests. The Wilcoxon signed-rank and chi-square tests were utilized to compare categorical and quantitative variables across groups. Responses to the questionnaires were recorded on numerical Likert scales ranging from 1 to 5 for OFS and 0 to 4 for OHIP-14. The mean OHIP-14 and OFS scores were compared between the pre-rehabilitation and post-rehabilitation stages.

Results: A comparison between the pre-rehabilitation and post-rehabilitation scores from the OHIP-14 questionnaire revealed a significant difference (p= 0.001). The OFS results indicated significant improvements across all domains following the use of obturators.

Conclusion: Interim obturators play a vital role in improving speech, swallowing, and mastication during the recovery period for patients who have undergone bilateral total maxillectomy. Despite the altered anatomy resulting from the resection, patients adapted effectively and exhibited improvements in their social, psychological, and mental health.