Obturator

Hi SylMarie,

Yes I have one. What I can tell you is it is needed, otherwise you can't eat, drink or talk. It's not perfect but it does the job. As my Dr. told me, "it's not as good as the original", when I complained about it not being a sealed fit. Liquid will still come out of your nose especially when you tilt your head to look down at your plate, as we do. What helps is applying a bead of poly grip around the top edge. It doesn't stop the leaking but it helps. Try to keep it clean. This is a chore as it fills up after eating anything but it should be done. Make sure you go back as often as needed to get the adjustment right, otherwise it can cause a lot of discomfort if it is too tight. You obviously don't want it too loose either. This usually takes 3 or 4 trips back after your "final" is made.

Hope this helps,

Joe

SylMarie said:

Thank you, Joe. The temporary obturator makes me gag.

I appreciate the tips, Joe! I will remember to get some poly grip and to keep it clean. Did your temporary obturator ever make you gag? It feels like it is far back in my throat. And since I suffer from allergic rhinitis and often have some post-nasal drip, that makes that sensation worse.     I was told that each obturator gets smaller as one heals. Did you find that to be true?

I had my surgery June 30 and I am still at the stage where I go to a local oral surgeon to change the gauze twice per week. I think next week will be the last time he does that, and then I am moving to my second obturator. They took out three molars and my canine on the upper left side, so I am anxious for the day when I can get an obturator that replaces those teeth. 

Hi SylMarie,

It sounds like your "defect" is further back then mine. I lost mostly my hard palate, some soft palate, no tooth lost so I don't have the gaging sensation. The opening does get smaller but only incrementally, not significantly.

Hope this helps,

Joe.

I got my final obturator in Jan. 2016 at Lancaster Cleft Palate clinic after many visits. They were very good at working with me, and I probably had 4 versions and too many modifications to count. I still have mouth pain and am on opioids for it. I see a pain management specialist every 1-2 months; also doing swallowing therapy and exercises for tongue mobility. I'm still eating only smoothies and soft or blended foods. It's been a long journey since my surgery, which was in Jan. 2014. See my page (Jane's Cancer Journey) for more info. Best wishes on your obturator, SylMarie. Keep going with the modifications until you're satisfied with it. Any idea when you'll get the final one?

My husband has a transitional obturator and will get his final/permanent one after he finishes radiation.  He has a lot of leaking problems and has had it adjusted twice so far.  He will also have a couple teeth in his permanent device.  His surgery was also on June 30th but he did not have a surgical one installed since the doctor did not suspect cancer prior to surgery. Turns out he did have Stage IV that invaded bone, a huge surprise to all involved.  As janich stated, it's not the original but it does get the job done.  He can't eat, drink, or talk without it.  He is in week 3 of radiation and now has the sore throat, mouth sores and burning.  It's going to be a chore to endure treatment with the obturator but he has no choice. 

janich said:

temp obturator

I had a similar situation, stage IV cancer that invaded the bone of my hard palate. Surgery was Jan. 2014. I couldn't wear my obturator during treatment, my mouth was too sore. I had a feeding tube for 19 months, just had it removed this January. It's a long hard road. Please write back to me about how it's going so I can pray for you, and maybe we can share experiences. Much of my story is on my CSN page which I think you can see if you're interested.

Oh my, I am so worried that he is going to have to remove the obturator before treatment is over.  He has horrible trismus and can barely get the thing out to clean it already.  He was certain he could get through treatment without a feeding tube but has now asked for one.  He's already taking liquid pain meds and just got the magic mouthwash today.  I haven't really posted his story and am not sure how to get to your CSN page.  I do read this forum everyday and follow many of the suggestions provided.  I'm so glad to hear you are doing fairly well 2 1/2 years out.  We have no idea where this mess came from, never had nicotine in his body and it was not HPV.  He was so healthy before surgery, it is hard to watch him suffer thru these treatments. 

SylMarie said:

Georgiasurfer, I'm sorry to

Georgiasurfer, I'm sorry to read that your husband is having such a rough time with his rads and with the obturator. I haven't started my rads yet. That comes on September 12. On Tuesday of this week, they made my mask, a bite plate to help keep my tongue out of the way (hopefully) of the beam, and my first visit to do the run-through with that is on September 9.  

We will be getting my treatment out of state because the rad onc is focusing a study on pain management during radiation and I was able to sign up for it. They started me on Gabapentin 300 mg. starting now, and as treatment progresses, they will add the liquid pain med. All day long I have to check in through a smartphone app and this will let them tweak my meds. 

All that being said, I have no idea what to expect. After my surgery on June 30 I already had issues opening my jaw very much, which caused me eating problems, along with my obturator. I have been using something called a Therabite to keep my jaw from freezing up more, and it is supposed to help me get it to open better, eventually. It is a challenge because until my jaw opens more, my prosthodontist is unable to fit a molding tray into my mouth, to make the molds for my next obturator and even my flurode trays to try to keep my teeth healthy. 

As far as pain management, has your doctor prescribed gabapentin at all? 

He hasn't been prescribed Gabapentin but he has been prescribed liquid pain meds, zofram and magic mouthwash.  He too has a Therabite.  He has been using it as directed since surgery and his opening has steadily gotten worse, much worse.  Thank goodness his prosthodontist was able to squeeze in a mold before it got so bad.  Also his dentist was able to cut the floride trays to make them fit.  Keep using that Therabite.  They changed him from 3 thirty minutes stretches per day to 7 seven second max opening stretches 7 times per day this week to see if that would help any.  It really is his most upsetting side effect, his mouth opening.  It bothers him to no end.  He has also been taking the L-Glutamine 3 x daily since treatment started. 

Are you able to use a straw?  My husband has no suction unless his obturator is leaking really bad. 

The trial sounds awesome.  Keep us posted on how it's going.  The only study he was eligible for was the Erbitux and he ultimately wasn't randomized to receive the medication.  We are so fortunate to live 30 minutes from Emory in Atlanta to get treatments.  I've met several great people that are staying in hospital provided lodging while undergoing treatment.

SylMarie said:

GeorgiaSurfer, no I can't use

GeorgiaSurfer, no I can't use a straw either. I have no suction. It's pretty maddening, isn't it? I empathize with your husband, believe me. 

I'm using the Therabite 5x a day, 30 repetitions each time, and then some other jaw exercises. When I started, I had a 20 mm. opening. As of yesterday, I was up to 26 mm. My prosthodontist estimated that he needed 28-35 mm of opening to fit the mold in my mouth. I will see him in a couple of hours and he will not be pleased. It complicates everything, because we leave for Baltimore on 9/7, and it takes about 3 visits to his office and then the lab has to make the obturator, which takes a while -- with Labor Day weekend in between. Oh, well... And I was hoping for a few teeth to go with the next obturator.  

I'm crossing my fingers that by some miracle, the prosthodontist will be able to get a tray in there today, even if only to make the fluoride trays. 

I am going to tell my husband your repetitions.  I think 26mm is amazing.  My husband is at 10mm and maybe 13mm immediatley after stretching.  I am not sure where you are located but I know his proshodontist was able to get a tray in a smaller opening than 28mm.  He also has a lab in his office so he takes care of it while you wait.  His name is Dr. James Davis of Oro-Facial in Tucker Georgia.  He is the nicest man, so gentle with his patients.

Please let me know how it goes.

Tammy

My husband has seen Dr. Davis at http://www.oro-facialcenter.com/. He is wonderful. Very kind and gentle. Wow, I'd heard they have to be replaced every 5 years or so.  I hope Dr Davis can help him. I'm sure he can. He has worked miracles for us.