Maxillofacial Prosthodontics

[Dr. Dai Phan]

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Hello all,

MF is a sub-speciality of prosthodontics that is extremely rewarding! This is the ONLY specialty that you can be a TRUE artist since you are not limited only to restorations of teeth but also reconstructing facial parts through artificial means. It is a great field but the downside is that you have to complete a 3 year Pros. residency first even to be considered. DP

 

[UNLV OMS GUNNABE]

Hello,

This one wins the random award for the day.

 

[Dr. Dai Phan]

Hello,

This one wins the random award for the day.

Hi,

I am at loss to your comment. 😕 DP

 

[Yah-E]

Hello,

This one wins the random award for the day.

Dat Phan is the winner of Last Comic Standing, remember?

 

[Dr. Dai Phan]

Dat Phan is the winner of Last Comic Standing, remember?

Boy, I wish I had seen him. I heard he was pretty funny. DP

 

[GatorDMD]

Hello,

This one wins the random award for the day.

 

[OMFSdoc]

Hello all,

MF is a sub-speciality of prosthodontics that is extremely rewarding! This is the ONLY specialty that you can be a TRUE artist since you are not limited only to restorations of teeth but also reconstructing facial parts through artificial means. It is a great field but the downside is that you have to complete a 3 year Pros. residency first even to be considered. DP

Yeah, but it's not as cool as OMFS

 

[Jediwendell]

Two words: William Hung. 😀

 

[toofache32]

Two words: William Hung. 😀

I was thinking the same thing!

 

[aphistis]

This is the ONLY specialty that you can be a TRUE artist

...you've got to be kidding here. Right?

...Right...?

C'mon, man, you expect people to take you seriously, coming in out of nowhere posting trash like that?

 

[OMFSCardsFan]

...you've got to be kidding here. Right?

...Right...?

C'mon, man, you expect people to take you seriously, coming in out of nowhere posting trash like that?

I thought about replying to that comment as well, but decided that it wasn't worth my time...interesting perspective...

 

[Dr. Dai Phan]

...you've got to be kidding here. Right?

...Right...?

C'mon, man, you expect people to take you seriously, coming in out of nowhere posting trash like that?

Hello,

Why do you get offended? Are you telling that making facial prostheses like ear, nose, eyes and midface prostheses are not "artistic" in nature? To me it is. If someone tells me that carving a Class I occlusal alloy is "artistic", then I would agree too, but I would not bash the person. DP

 

[aphistis]

Hello,

Why do you get offended? Are you telling that making facial prostheses like ear, nose, eyes and midface prostheses are not "artistic" in nature? To me it is. If someone tells me that carving a Class I occlusal alloy is "artistic", then I would agree too, but I would not bash the person. DP

Offended? I'm not.

Bashing? Again, I'm not.

Where, exactly, have I said or even implied that maxpros isn't artistic? Nowhere...

[Maxillofacial prosthodontics] is the ONLY specialty that you can be a TRUE artist

...But I'll be golly-gosh-darned if you didn't, in the very first post in the thread, come out of nowhere to flip the middle finger to restorative dentists everywhere by saying their work isn't artistic.

Keep blustering or start backpedaling, take your pick. It's all the same to me.

 

[steve0036]

Two words: William Hung. 😀

William Hung is cool dude. I actually met him when I was attending UC-Berkeley

 

[Dr. Dai Phan]

Offended? I'm not.

Bashing? Again, I'm not.

Where, exactly, have I said or even implied that maxpros isn't artistic? Nowhere...


...But I'll be golly-gosh-darned if you didn't, in the very first post in the thread, come out of nowhere to flip the middle finger to restorative dentists everywhere by saying their work isn't artistic.

Keep blustering or start backpedaling, take your pick. It's all the same to me.

Hello,

In my original post, NOWHERE that I say that restorative dentists's work is not artistic. To say so would be a complete bigotry and naieve as well as TOTAL IGNORANCE! I am not implying that you say MF is not artistic because you did not. I am just appalled on why you think my statement is "trash"? I simply make a statement that I believe is is true in my opinion. Everytime I sit down to make a facial moulage then apply colorings to their facial prostheses, I feel like this is the ONLY specialty that allows me to do this (like being an artist in a Hollowood makeup studio) in my opinion.
I do tons of veneers as well as dentures with internal staining too and that is also artistic but I do not feel the same way when I fabricate a midface appliance. If a person says that cosmetic dentistsy or OS or perio or ortho are the ONLY specialities that involve "artistry", then I would respect his opinion as well but I would never call their statement "trash". DP

 

[aphistis]

Hello,

In my original post, NOWHERE that I say that restorative dentists's work is not artistic. To say so would be a complete bigotry and naieve as well as TOTAL IGNORANCE! I am not implying that you say MF is not artistic because you did not. I am just appalled on why you think my statement is "trash"? I simply make a statement that I believe is is true in my opinion. Everytime I sit down to make a facial moulage then apply colorings to their facial prostheses, I feel like this is the ONLY specialty that allows me to do this (like being an artist in a Hollowood makeup studio) in my opinion.
I do tons of veneers as well as dentures with internal staining too and that is also artistic but I do not feel the same way when I fabricate a midface appliance. If a person says that cosmetic dentistsy or OS or perio or ortho are the ONLY specialities that involve "artistry", then I would respect his opinion as well but I would never call their statement "trash". DP

Dr. Phan, I'm not going to let this degenerate into a personal squabble. You said what you said, and you're responding to criticisms & accusations I've never made, and I think both of those speak for themselves.

 

[Dr. Dai Phan]

Dr. Phan, I'm not going to let this degenerate into a personal squabble. You said what you said, and you're responding to criticisms & accusations I've never made, and I think both of those speak for themselves.

Hello,

I agree that we should focus on posting other things that are helpful to predental/dental/and post grads. Let me make my final saying in this. It was never my intention to post "trash" in this forum and the comment that I made at the beginning is simply a personal statement regarding the unique field of maxillofacial prosthodontics. I have utmost respect for other disciplines as well as I firmly believe that you need to be an artist to be a dentist. As a Moderator, you have the utmost authority to remove such "trash" postings and I will not be offended if you do. DP

 

[OMFSCardsFan]

Everytime I sit down to make a facial moulage then apply colorings to their facial prostheses, I feel like this is the ONLY specialty that allows me to do this...

No, what you said was a bit different. Let's revisit...

This is the ONLY specialty that you can be a TRUE artist since you are not limited only to restorations of teeth but also reconstructing facial parts through artificial means.

This does in fact say that you can only be a TRUE artist by reconstructing facial parts. What it definitely doesn't say is that "MF is the only specialty which allows you to reconstruct facial parts," which is what you are now claiming. Aphistis's comments are accurate and appropriate based on what you've posted. You don't have a (prosthetic) leg to stand on, doctor.

By the way, I'm not bashing you or your comment. I'm just expressing MY opinion that you are way off base on this one.

 

[toofache32]

Huh? I thought Periodontal Plastic Surgeons were the most artistic specialists.

 

[OMFSCardsFan]

Huh? I thought Periodontal Plastic Surgeons were the most artistic specialists.

Not until they can grow a new papilla...

Until then, maybe Dr. Phan can craft a nice prosthetic replacement. His tissue painting skills would undoubtedly improve the "black triangle" problem.

 

[BlueToothHunter]

Some of us have way too much free time!

 

[Dr. Dai Phan]

No, what you said was a bit different. Let's revisit...


This does in fact say that you can only be a TRUE artist by reconstructing facial parts. What it definitely doesn't say is that "MF is the only specialty which allows you to reconstruct facial parts," which is what you are now claiming. Aphistis's comments are accurate and appropriate based on what you've posted. You don't have a (prosthetic) leg to stand on, doctor.

By the way, I'm not bashing you or your comment. I'm just expressing MY opinion that you are way off base on this one.

Hello,

What other dental speciality that allows the clinician to construct facial parts through artificial means? MF is the ONLY, that's right ONLY one specialty (to be more correct sub-specialty). Let's see... OMFS? Ortho?Perio?Endo?Public Health?Radiology?Pathology? hmm... Maybe you can let all of us know if there is one dental discipline that does this that we don't know about... DP

 

[OMFS2B]

Hello,

What other dental speciality that allows the clinician to construct facial parts through artificial means? MF is the ONLY, that's right ONLY one specialty (to be more correct sub-specialty). Let's see... OMFS? Ortho?Perio?Endo?Public Health?Radiology?Pathology? hmm... Maybe you can let all of us know if there is one dental discipline that does this that we don't know about... DP

If you want to see reconstruction of "facial parts", then spend a day in the OR when we're on face trauma.

 

[TiggerJSA]

Hello,

What other dental speciality that allows the clinician to construct facial parts through artificial means? MF is the ONLY, that's right ONLY one specialty (to be more correct sub-specialty). Let's see... OMFS? Ortho?Perio?Endo?Public Health?Radiology?Pathology? hmm... Maybe you can let all of us know if there is one dental discipline that does this that we don't know about... DP

Honestly man... you gotta simmer down. Reading your posts on this thread is like watching gnats f#$%. I've been trying to find a polite way to tell you to shut the #$@* up. This is what I've come up with: shut the #@$& up!

I know you mean well, and I do respect the training you've gone through and your intentions with your posts. But, hey, do us all a favor and no more talkie from you. Thanks pal 😎

 

[toofache32]

.

 

[ItsGavinC]

Hello,

In my original post, NOWHERE that I say that restorative dentists's work is not artistic.

Right, just that it doesn't allow the clinician to be a true artist.

 

[ItsGavinC]

Honestly man... you gotta simmer down. Reading your posts on this thread is like watching gnats f#$%. I've been trying to find a polite way to tell you to shut the #$@* up. This is what I've come up with: shut the #@$& up!

I know you mean well, and I do respect the training you've gone through and your intentions with your posts. But, hey, do us all a favor and no more talkie from you. Thanks pal 😎

Easy, Tigger. 🙂

 

[Jediwendell]

William Hung is cool dude. I actually met him when I was attending UC-Berkeley

He's gotta be cooler than me. Im an orthodontist.

At least I'm not an oral surgeon.........anymore.

This thread sucks. I still don't know if Dai Phan isn't one of those crazy LSU shreveport OMS guys. I know they don't sleep, so of course they develop alter egos to have pretend trips to Bossier Citay.

 

[OMFSCardsFan]

Hello,

What other dental speciality that allows the clinician to construct facial parts through artificial means? MF is the ONLY, that's right ONLY one specialty (to be more correct sub-specialty). Let's see... OMFS? Ortho?Perio?Endo?Public Health?Radiology?Pathology? hmm... Maybe you can let all of us know if there is one dental discipline that does this that we don't know about... DP

I'm not sure how you could re-read your original post and still not find any semblance of arrogance within it. This whole thing must, then, be a misunderstanding based on your poor command of the English language, for which we can't exactly criticize you.

 

[esclavo]

Hello,

What other dental speciality that allows the clinician to construct facial parts through artificial means? MF is the ONLY, that's right ONLY one specialty (to be more correct sub-specialty). Let's see... OMFS? Ortho?Perio?Endo?Public Health?Radiology?Pathology? hmm... Maybe you can let all of us know if there is one dental discipline that does this that we don't know about... DP

I know of another profession that constructs facial parts through artificial means.... make-up artists in hollywood. Haven't you seen "The Mask" or "The Grinch" or "Jiminy Glick". They do a really sweet job and they don't have to do 10 years of training to do it. You don't need a license to put alginate on someones face, make molds, wax a face and then make a silicone mold of it. (you do need an OMFs to put in the big huge facial implants-zygomatic or mastoid or otherwise to hook your little contraption to). We don't do artificial constructions of the face in OMFS, we do autogenous... Hip, Free-fibula, paramedian forehead flaps, Radial forearm free, skin grafts.... Vastus Lateralis... The big difference is ours is an attempt to recreat both form and FUNCTION....I like your posts though....my TV broke and you are becoming my only source of distraction

 

[toofache32]

I know of another profession that constructs facial parts through artificial means.... make-up artists in hollywood. Haven't you seen "The Mask" or "The Grinch" or "Jiminy Glick".....

And don't forget these guys:

www.drbukk.com

 

[esclavo]

And don't forget these guys:

www.drbukk.com

Reminds me of some of my removable pros work from dental school.... I was only trying to custom make the denture so it had the patient's individual personality and facial features incorporated (the pros instructors didn't think I was very funny-that was one department that didn't have a sense of humor)...you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear is what my grandpa said...

 

[OMFSCardsFan]

And don't forget these guys:

www.drbukk.com

And to think that all this time I thought those were your wife's actual teeth. That's a good plan--keep the homewreckers away with a nasty grill.

 

[toofache32]

Maybe those were made by a maxillofacial prosthodontist...

 

[Dr. Dai Phan]

Hello,

The purpose of these forum is to help fellow students achieving their goals and that is my purpose of joining this site. I will not waste any more of my time dealing with these personal attacks. DP

 

[Dr. Dai Phan]

I know of another profession that constructs facial parts through artificial means.... make-up artists in hollywood. Haven't you seen "The Mask" or "The Grinch" or "Jiminy Glick". They do a really sweet job and they don't have to do 10 years of training to do it. You don't need a license to put alginate on someones face, make molds, wax a face and then make a silicone mold of it. (you do need an OMFs to put in the big huge facial implants-zygomatic or mastoid or otherwise to hook your little contraption to). We don't do artificial constructions of the face in OMFS, we do autogenous... Hip, Free-fibula, paramedian forehead flaps, Radial forearm free, skin grafts.... Vastus Lateralis... The big difference is ours is an attempt to recreat both form and FUNCTION....I like your posts though....my TV broke and you are becoming my only source of distraction

Hello,

I have the utmost respect for oral surgeons as their training is quite instensive and I do admire the time that they put in the OR saving people faces. Infact there were many times that I do contemplate of going back to school since I really like the type of work the the OS do. Recently, I inquired about the OS program at University of Tennesee at Memphis a few months back. I have the respect for this discipline as much as I have for other specialities. I am not saying that my speciality is best or trying to imply that it is because for some , it is but for many others, it isn't. Regarding the numbers of years to do the facial moulage or so forth, that type of work does not require any more than a few months time at a local vocational school to do such! That type of work is strictly mechanical and surely it does not stand a leg when compared to the facial reconstruction that OS do as their work is much more complicated. That aspect of MF training is interesting but no way can be compared to the complex work by OS, as someone said that it is "not as cool as OS". But MF does not involve just making prosthetic facial devices but involve fabrication of other appliances in cases of oral cancer such as placement of surgical obturators, and definitive appliances post surgery such as speech bulb, palatal drop or lift, placement of implants to restore missing dention or in the maxillofacial area, fabrication and insertion of cranial plates or such. It is one of the disciplines that many do not know about and to me, it is quite interesting. Again, do not take this statement as a personal attack to the field of OS but it is not intended to be. I have recieved many nasty PMs and some feel that I have made personal attacks to their discipline in which it is not the case. DP

 

[esclavo]

Hello,

I have the utmost respect for oral surgeons as their training is quite instensive and I do admire the time that they put in the OR saving people faces. Infact there were many times that I do contemplate of going back to school since I really like the type of work the the OS do. Recently, I inquired about the OS program at University of Tennesee at Memphis a few months back. I have the respect for this discipline as much as I have for other specialities. I am not saying that my speciality is best or trying to imply that it is because for some , it is but for many others, it isn't. Regarding the numbers of years to do the facial moulage or so forth, that type of work does not require any more than a few months time at a local vocational school to do such! That type of work is strictly mechanical and surely it does not stand a leg when compared to the facial reconstruction that OS do as their work is much more complicated. That aspect of MF training is interesting but no way can be compared to the complex work by OS, as someone said that it is "not as cool as OS". But MF does not involve just making prosthetic facial devices but involve fabrication of other appliances in cases of oral cancer such as placement of surgical obturators, and definitive appliances post surgery such as speech bulb, palatal drop or lift, placement of implants to restore missing dention or in the maxillofacial area, fabrication and insertion of cranial plates or such. It is one of the disciplines that many do not know about and to me, it is quite interesting. Again, do not take this statement as a personal attack to the field of OS but it is not intended to be. I have recieved many nasty PMs and some feel that I have made personal attacks to their discipline in which it is not the case. DP

White flag offering: I will admit, we've had a few reconstructive patients with complete mandibular and midface avulsions, in which they have had at least 10 reconstructive surgeries in which the outcome has been less than what I would like (exposed bars, failed flaps, etcetera) . I sometimes wonder if we should have just put some implants in what was left of the zygomas and let a MF prosthodontist make a little clip doohickie and be done with it.

 

[Dr. Dai Phan]

Hello,

I must agree with your assesment. At MSKCC, there were a few times that a patient had underwent multiple attempts with plastic surgeons to repair an ear but at the end, an implant and a clip on prosthetic ear finally did the trick. I personally have not seen an ear that was esthetically constructed surgically, not to say that they don't exist. But I can say that surgically constructed a facial part that were severely deformed is quite challenging. I think that prosthetic intervention many times would save the patient's time and expenses. DP

 

[monika sharma]

hi Dr Dai Phan
I am interested in your speciality. Can you please suggest how to apply for it and what all are the prerequirments. I am starting with the 3ed year dental school. My planning is to do Prosthdontics residency in future. I request your suggestion for the same.Thanks in advance
Monika s

Hello,

I must agree with your assesment. At MSKCC, there were a few times that a patient had underwent multiple attempts with plastic surgeons to repair an ear but at the end, an implant and a clip on prosthetic ear finally did the trick. I personally have not seen an ear that was esthetically constructed surgically, not to say that they don't exist. But I can say that surgically constructed a facial part that were severely deformed is quite challenging. I think that prosthetic intervention many times would save the patient's time and expenses. DP

 

[Dr. Dai Phan]

hi Dr Dai Phan
I am interested in your speciality. Can you please suggest how to apply for it and what all are the prerequirments. I am starting with the 3ed year dental school. My planning is to do Prosthdontics residency in future. I request your suggestion for the same.Thanks in advance
Monika s

Hello,

You need to get in the prosthodontic residency first and do well. Then a year before you finish your pros. program, you can apply for the Maxillofacial Prosthodontics fellowship. There are about 12 programs and each accepts 1-2 a year so the competition can be stiff. You may discover that after 3 years of pros. you may not want to do any more training. Regarding the pros. residency, the hard part is NOT getting in but the training can be very brutal pending on some programs. Programs that require pros. students to do all their lab work are pretty tough but you will learn a lot! Unless you love lab work or have excellent hands at waxing, you may want to reconsider. But you will know about restorative dentistry very well. DP

 

[nnjh]

Hello,

You need to get in the prosthodontic residency first and do well. Then a year before you finish your pros. program, you can apply for the Maxillofacial Prosthodontics fellowship. There are about 12 programs and each accepts 1-2 a year so the competition can be stiff. You may discover that after 3 years of pros. you may not want to do any more training. Regarding the pros. residency, the hard part is NOT getting in but the training can be very brutal pending on some programs. Programs that require pros. students to do all their lab work are pretty tough but you will learn a lot! Unless you love lab work or have excellent hands at waxing, you may want to reconsider. But you will know about restorative dentistry very well. DP

MF prosth. Don't know much about it but it always reminds me of the phantom of the opera for some odd reason. Didn't the phantom make a prosth. facial mask or something?

 

[Dr. Dai Phan]

MF prosth. Don't know much about it but it always reminds me of the phantom of the opera for some odd reason. Didn't the phantom make a prosth. facial mask or something?

Hello there,

Enclosed is the link for you to check out.

http://maxillofacialprosth.org/

Making facial prosthesis is only a small part of the discipline as there are much more than that. Many MFs refer to maxillofacial prosthetist (technician) to do these facial parts. I love to do them because they are interesting and fun. DP

 

[aphistis]

Hello there,

Enclosed is the link for you to check out.

http://maxillofacialprosth.org/

Making facial prosthesis is only a small part of the discipline as there are much more than that. Many MFs refer to maxillofacial prosthetist (technician) to do these facial parts. I love to do them because they are interesting and fun. DP

Huh. Dr. Haug, listed on the front page there, is my clinic's main faculty prosthodontist. Do you know him?

 

[north2southOMFS]

Dr. Dai, i am disappointed to see your not even a member of your professions national organization. I scrolled through the list of members and their isn't even one Dr. Phan listed. Where's the support?

 

[toofache32]

Dr. Dai, i am disappointed to see your not even a member of your professions national organization. I scrolled through the list of members and their isn't even one Dr. Phan listed. Where's the support?

No glove....no love.

 

[monika sharma]

Hi Dr. Dai Phan
Thanks for your kind reply. This is really informative. I also wanted to know which universities in your knowledge have paid prosthodontics residencies.
Regards
Monika

Hello,

You need to get in the prosthodontic residency first and do well. Then a year before you finish your pros. program, you can apply for the Maxillofacial Prosthodontics fellowship. There are about 12 programs and each accepts 1-2 a year so the competition can be stiff. You may discover that after 3 years of pros. you may not want to do any more training. Regarding the pros. residency, the hard part is NOT getting in but the training can be very brutal pending on some programs. Programs that require pros. students to do all their lab work are pretty tough but you will learn a lot! Unless you love lab work or have excellent hands at waxing, you may want to reconsider. But you will know about restorative dentistry very well. DP

 

[PeterEP]

Hi Dr. Dai Phan
Thanks for your kind reply. This is really informative. I also wanted to know which universities in your knowledge have paid prosthodontics residencies.
Regards
Monika

www.google.com is one I think..

 

[monika sharma]

www.google.com is one I think..

Hi Peter
Thanks for your reply. I am searching on the same site you suggested.
Good wishes
Monika

 

[omfsStud]

Is it just me, or does anyone else see a romance sparking here?!? Dai, keep those replies going and you might get lucky.

 

[toofache32]

Is it just me, or does anyone else see a romance sparking here?!? Dai, keep those replies going and you might get lucky.