Comparison of weight reduction in different designs of solid and hollow obturator prostheses.

Seven types of the partially edentulous maxillectomy arches based on Aramany's classification were designed to evaluate the weight reduction of hollow obturator prostheses. Six obturator prostheses were made for each type of maxillary defect, three of the solid type and three of the hollow type. The weight of each of the 42 obturator prostheses was measured and all of the data were collected and statistically analyzed. The results showed that the hollow obturator prostheses had significantly increased weight reduction, from 6.55% to 33.06% depending on the size of the defect.