Prosthetic Management for Hemimandibulectomy- A Review

Unilateral mandibular discontinuity from surgery or trauma causes deviation of the mandible toward the defect, which leads to loss of occlusion on the normal side. These resections also impair speech, swallowing, and salivary control, and result in facial asymmetry and disfigurement. A key objective of treatment is to restore acceptable occlusal function. In edentulous patients, maxillomandibular fixation or stabilizing projection can be facilitated, whereas in dentate patients, the presence of residual teeth assists in repositioning the mandibular fragments, and this process can be further supported by the use of guidance prostheses. Such prostheses play a crucial role in retraining the mandible after partial mandibulectomy, helping to re-establish functional occlusion and allowing for an earlier shift to a near-normal, definitive restoration. This paper reviews various mandibular guidance prostheses employed in managing mandibular deviation in both edentulous and partially dentulous patients.