The discipline of maxillofacial prosthesis concerns the non-surgical management of the reconstruction of acquired loss of substance or congenital malformations of the facial mass. It contributes to the functional, aesthetic and psychological rehabilitation of patients. The main objective of this descriptive study was to measure the overall quality of life of patients attending the Maxillofacial Prosthesis Consultation directed by Dr. Pomès (Oral Medicine Department of Prof. Lescaille - Pitié-Salpêtrière University Hospital, Paris, France). The secondary objectives of this study were to measure the quality of life related to the oral health of the patients, to describe the patient population from a sociodemographic and medical point of view. Patients were included over a 6- month period from November 2020 to May 2021. The sample size was 83 patients. The average age of the sample was 61.6 years. The main reason for consultation was maxillofacial prosthesis or obturator (74 %). The etiology of the loss of substance was 80 % malignant neoplasia. Although the oral health-related quality of life was low, this did not seem to affect the general quality of life and general health, which were good and satisfactory, respectively. There was a positive correlation between the different dimensions of quality of life and oral health-related quality of life. The better the oral health-related quality of life score, the better the scores of the four quality of life dimensions (physical health, psychology, social relationships, environment) were. The positive correlation between the oral health-related quality of life score and the physical health domain of overall quality of life had the greatest strength of association (RHO=0.573).

Marcel Tendayoudabany, DDS, graduated from Université de Paris, France, with post-graduate training in buccal carcinology and maxillofacial prosthesis. A laureate of the National French Dental Academy, Marcel Tendayoudabany specializes in complex prosthetic rehabilitation and aesthetics, and works both in private practice and a hospital setting in Paris.