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CBCT-based segmentation produced a 3D defect model used to design a hollow device printed in flexible IBT resin and validated chairside, showing comparable function to conventional obturators with reduced weight.",{"@graph":14,"@context":73},[15,34,56],{"@type":16,"itemListElement":17},"BreadcrumbList",[18,23,27,31],{"item":19,"name":20,"@type":21,"position":22},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",1,{"item":24,"name":25,"@type":21,"position":26},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/","Document",2,{"item":28,"name":29,"@type":21,"position":30},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/healthcare/","Healthcare",3,{"item":32,"name":10,"@type":21,"position":33},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/flexible-obturator-with-a-full-digital-workflow-a-proof-of-concept-case-report/408670/",4,{"url":32,"name":10,"@type":35,"image":36,"author":41,"headline":10,"publisher":44,"fileFormat":47,"inLanguage":8,"description":12,"dateModified":48,"datePublished":49,"encodingFormat":47,"isAccessibleForFree":50,"interactionStatistic":51},"DigitalDocument",{"url":37,"@type":38,"width":39,"height":40},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/flexible-obturator-with-a-full-digital-workflow-a-proof-of-concept-case-report/408670.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":42,"@type":43},"pixelkiddo","Person",{"url":19,"name":45,"@type":46},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-22","2026-09-28",true,{"@type":52,"interactionType":53,"userInteractionCount":55},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":54},"ViewAction",6,{"@type":57,"mainEntity":58},"FAQPage",[59,65,69],{"name":60,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":62},"What problem does the paper address for oral cancer patients?","Question",{"text":63,"@type":64},"Treatment can lead to maxillary defects and post-radiation complications such as trismus, making prosthetic rehabilitation difficult and affecting mastication, speech, and aesthetics.","Answer",{"name":66,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":67},"What is the proposed solution in this case report?",{"text":68,"@type":64},"A fully digital workflow to design and manufacture a self-retaining flexible palatal obturator, using CBCT scans, segmentation, and 3D printing with flexible resin.",{"name":70,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":71},"How was the digital obturator evaluated clinically?",{"text":72,"@type":64},"The 3D-printed flexible obturator was clinically validated chairside, with qualitative assessment by the patient showing comparable functional results to a conventional obturator and notable weight reduction.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":32,"og:type":75,"og:title":10,"og:site_name":45,"og:description":12},"article",{"robots":77,"canonical":32},"index,follow",{"doc_id":79,"site_id":7},408670,1791619006,{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":83},"success",[84,88,92,96,101,105,109,114,119,122,126],{"id":22,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":85,"show_sort_weight":86,"slug":87},"Story & Novel",90,"story-novel",{"id":26,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":89,"show_sort_weight":90,"slug":91},"Literature",80,"literature",{"id":33,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":93,"show_sort_weight":94,"slug":95},"Exam",70,"exam",{"id":97,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":98,"show_sort_weight":99,"slug":100},5,"Comic",60,"comic",{"id":55,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":102,"show_sort_weight":103,"slug":104},"Technology",50,"technology",{"id":106,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":29,"show_sort_weight":107,"slug":108},7,40,"healthcare",{"id":110,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":111,"show_sort_weight":112,"slug":113},8,"Research & Report",30,"research-report",{"id":115,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":116,"show_sort_weight":117,"slug":118},9,"Religion & Spirituality",20,"religion-spirituality",{"id":117,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":120,"show_sort_weight":117,"slug":121},"World Cup","world-cup",{"id":123,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":124,"show_sort_weight":123,"slug":125},10,"Lifestyle","lifestyle",{"id":127,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":128,"show_sort_weight":97,"slug":129},19,"General","general",{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":131},{"doc_id":79,"user_id":132,"nickname":42,"user_avatar":133,"doc_module":4,"category_id":106,"category_name":29,"doc_title":10,"doc_description":12,"doc_content":134,"file_id":135,"file_url":136,"file_type":137,"file_size":138,"view_count":55,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":22,"is_downloadable":22,"audit_status":22,"page_count":106,"language":139,"language_code":8,"site_id":7,"html_lang":8,"table_of_contents":140,"faqs":141,"seo_title":142,"seo_description":12,"update_tm":143,"read_time":144,"preview_page_count":4},962090883892,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/avatar/e00115db34f3e0f11b?x-image-process=image/resize,m_fixed,w_180,h_180&k=1790152879550218658","Review began 01/21/2025  \nReview ended 11/20/2025  \nPublished 12/01/2025  \n© Copyright 2025  \nBorel et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License CC-BY 4.0. , which permits unrestricted use , distribution , and reproduction in any medium , provided the original author and source are credited.  \nDOI: 10.7759/cureus.98262  \nOpen Access Case Report  \nFlexible Obturator With a Full Digital Workflow: A Proof-of-Concept Case Report  \nOrianne Borel 1, 2, Dov Derman 2, Geraldine Lescaille 1, 2, Benjamin Pomes 2  \n1. Odontology Department, Health Faculty, Université Paris Cité, Paris, FRA 2. Odontology Department, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP) Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Paris, FRA  \nCorresponding author: Orianne Borel, [borelorianne@gmail.com](borelorianne@gmail.com)  \nAbstract  \nOral cancer treatment often results in maxillary defects that require prosthetic rehabilitation to restore function and aesthetics. Palatal obturators, particularly flexible silicone obturators, are commonly used but are difficult to design and fabricate in patients with post-radiation trismus or extensive defects.  \nThis case report presents an innovative, fully digital workflow from design to manufacture of a self-retaining flexible palatal obturator.  \nUsing cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans and segmentation software, a three-dimensional (3D) model of the defect was created, which was then used to design a hollow obturator. The obturator was 3Dprinted with flexible IBT (indirect bonding tray) resin (Formlabs, Somerville, MA) .  \nThe 3D-printed flexible obturator was clinically validated chairside. A qualitative assessment was performed by the patient and showed comparable functional results between the digital obturator and conventional obturator, with notable advantages in weight reduction.  \nThis innovative protocol bypasses the traditional challenges of impression taking, offering a reproducible and accessible method for the prosthetic management of complex maxillary defects.  \nCategories: Oncology, Dentistry, Oral Medicine  \nKeywords: cad-cam, computed tomography (ct ), maxillary defect, maxillectomy rehabilitation, maxillo-facial prosthesis, obturator prosthesis, three-dimensional (3d) printing  \nIntroduction  \nOral cancer, referring to cancers of the oral cavity and oropharynx, ranks as the sixth most prevalent cancer worldwide [1] . Surgical resection remains the primary treatment, often combined with chemotherapy and postoperative radiotherapy [2] . These treatments can result in complications such as trismus and maxillary defects, leading to oronasal communication and impaired mastication, speech, and aesthetics [3] .  \nRigid resin palatal obturators are dental prostheses designed to close maxillary defects and restore oral function [4] . Their insertion and removal remain critical, particularly in patients with post-radiotherapy trismus [5] . An optimal solution may be a removable dental prosthesis with a dissociated flexible silicone palatal obturator to allow insertion of the dental prosthesis in two parts. The self-retaining flexible silicone obturator can also contribute to the stability and retention of the prosthesis [6] .  \nThe design of these prostheses has its limitations, particularly the physical impression. This step is difficult for the patient, with the placement of materials in contact with fragile internal anatomical structures, and challenging for the practitioner, confronted with several technical difficulties, such as limited mouth opening [7] . To overcome these limitations, computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM)  \ntechniques have been explored.  \nIn recent years, CAD/CAM technologies have been increasingly applied in dentistry, allowing clinicians to digitize several steps of the workflow. These include three-dimensional (3D) scanning, digital modelling, and additive manufacturing (3D printing) .  \nSeveral recent studies have d","cbCaimZUL8Uw33wC","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaimZUL8Uw33wC","pdf",3192017,"English","# Abstract\n# Introduction\n# Case Presentation\n## Digital recording of the defect\n## Segmentation","[{\"question\":\"What problem does the paper address for oral cancer patients?\",\"answer\":\"Treatment can lead to maxillary defects and post-radiation complications such as trismus, making prosthetic rehabilitation difficult and affecting mastication, speech, and aesthetics.\"},{\"question\":\"What is the proposed solution in this case report?\",\"answer\":\"A fully digital workflow to design and manufacture a self-retaining flexible palatal obturator, using CBCT scans, segmentation, and 3D printing with flexible resin.\"},{\"question\":\"How was the digital obturator evaluated clinically?\",\"answer\":\"The 3D-printed flexible obturator was clinically validated chairside, with qualitative assessment by the patient showing comparable functional results to a conventional obturator and notable weight reduction.\"}]","Flexible Obturator With a Full Digital Workflow - A Proof-of-Concept Case Report | PDF",1790580198,18]