Gordon E. King

Electrotherapy and hyperbaric oxygen: Promising treatments for postradiation complications

Electrotherapy and hyperbaric oxygen therapy have been added to physical therapy to treat patients with postsurgery and radiation sequelae. Problems of reduced oral opening and range of head movement, soft tissue necrosis, osteoradionecrosis, and delayed wound healing were addressed in 37 patients over a 3-year period. Of this group, 16 irradiated maxillary resection patients were specifically followed up to determine the effectiveness of the new modalities on improving reduced oral opening. Although healing and the quality of the soft tissues showed marked improvement there was no significant improvement in oral opening.

Evaluation of primers used for bonding silicone to denture base material

Three primers were evaluated to determine their effect on the strength of the bond when Silastic 891 is cured to poly(methylmethacrylate). Silastic cured directly to the poly(methylmethacrylate) without a primer was used as a control. All primers increased the bond strength but one of the primers was definitely superior to the others.

A shade guide for acrylic resin facial prostheses

The value and success of a well-fitting and anatomically correct prosthesis are compromised if the color does not match the adjoining tissue. Color and color science are reviewed to help develop a simplified acrylic resin shade guide to aid in fabricating acrylic resin facial prostheses. This guide will help the clinician obtain a good intrinsic shade and minimize extrinsic coloration.

Modified technique for preparing a polyurethane lining for facial prostheses

A simplified technique for preparing, under a vacuum, a polyurethane lining for a facial prosthesis is described. A previously presented technique strengthened the prosthesis and allowed it to be attached with a water-based adhesive. This technique eliminates wrinkling, simplifies bonding, allows multiple linings to be made at the same time, conserves time and cost, and improves predictability of the results.

Use of nonconductive tubing for nasal stent fabrication

A new and effective technique for making and delivering a nasal stent that can be used for surgical, interim, and definitive stents is presented. The materials used are easily obtainable and inexpensive.

An acrylic resin core for processing silicone facial prostheses

A technique is presented for making an acrylic resin core for processing silicone facial prostheses. This technique ensures a durable core that can be used to make multiple prostheses. The core resists fungal growth during storage and creates a smooth, easily cleanable internal surface for a facial prosthesis. The core also permits a controllable thickness and therefore a lighter prosthesis.

The effects of hollow microsphere fillers on density and impact strength of denture base resins

The addition of 20 vol% and 40 vol% filler significantly (p less than 0.05) reduced the density and impact strength of the denture base resin when compared with resin without filler. There was no significant difference in the density or impact strength between 20 vol% and 40 vol% filled specimens. Desiccation significantly (p less than 0.05) decreased the density and impact strength of denture base resin regardless of the presence or amount of filler added. The addition of microsphere filler decreased the denture base resin density by 8% to 9%, which may not reduce the weight of prostheses enough to be clinically significant. The impact strength was reduced by approximately 30%.

Indirect retainers in soft palate obturator design

Definitive framework design for the maxillofacial patient with complete maxillary dentition who has had a soft palate resection requires the use of direct and indirect retainers. It is possible to retain these prostheses, however, with only two posterior clasps and indirect retainers without clasps. This design offers an esthetic, retentive, and functional restoration while preserving existing structures. Four clinical applications are described.

Technique for controlling the thickness of a facial prosthesis when an acrylic resin core is used

A technique for evaluating the acrylic resin core before processing a silicone facial prosthesis is described. The technique involves the use of either irreversible hydrocolloid impression material or silicone to identify thin areas in the pattern. This simple yet effective procedure ensures adequate thickness and strength of the silicone prosthesis, which in turn decreases the amount of chair and laboratory time needed at the delivery appointment.

Electrotherapy Applied to Irradiated Head and Neck Cancer Patients

Dentists were first attracted to auriculotherapy and bioconductive therapy as a noninvasive, painless, and rapid means of relieving myofacial pain caused by temporomandibular joint problems and whiplash trauma. Physical therapists at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center have long been using electrotherapy in the traditional, recognized ways, and they also have been using auriculotherapy for pain control for at least 12 years. Auriculotherapy and bioconductive therapy gained further attention for their usefulness in treating sports injuries during the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Oleson and others4 at the University of California at Los Angeles School of Medicine showed how auriculotherapy could be used to detect a person’s physical problems by scanning his or her ear points with an electric probe. If an abnormal condition existed the corresponding ear point was hyperactive and elicited an electrically detectable response. Fenn showed that applying an electromagnetic field to an injured area, results in rapid dispersion of edema and hematoma.2 In the treatment of sports injuries, electrodes are placed on either side of an injured area to direct the electromagnetic field through the area.