The National Cancer Institute (NCI), Nagpur, announced the opening of a dedicated Prostho Dental Laboratory, with a special focus on the rehabilitation needs of head and neck cancer patients. The lab is established with the vision of restoring function, aesthetics, nutrition, comfort and confidence in patients undergoing pre/post-surgical, and pre/post-radiation treatments. The Prostho Dental Lab was inaugurated by NCI’s CEO and General Secretary, Shailesh Joglekar, and Medical Director, Dr Anand Pathak.

 

The lab is supervised by Dr Manjiri Charpe and Dr Deepa Balwani. The lab offers comprehensive, multidisciplinary rehabilitation in co-ordination with surgical oncology, radiotherapy and prosthodontics departments. “Our main aim is to develop a center of excellence for Maxillofacial prosthesis and cancer rehabilitation,” says a communique issued by the institute. The lab will have the facilities to restore oral functions such as speech, deglutition, mastication following maxillary defect. It will also aid in mandibular guidance, improving jaw movement and occlusion (mastication) after surgical resections, protect healthy tissues from scattered radiation during treatment and also aid in improving well-being of the patients in different scenarios.

 

This initiative represents a step forward in comprehensive head and neck cancer patient care, ensuring that our patients receive not only surgical and medical management, but also get essential prosthodontic rehabilitation as a part of holistic treatment.