Mucormycosis – A prosthodontists perspective

Abstract

Mucormycosis, an opportunistic fungal infection commonly associated with diabetes, is now intermittent as a result of co-infection with COVID-19 and steroid use, affecting the nose and paranasal sinuses of the head and neck region, with high mortality and morbidity. It is also more common in diabetic ketoacidosis, neutropenia, cancer, organ transplantation, and/or high serum iron levels, burns, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, indiscriminate usage of steroids, lymphoma, leukemia, poor metabolic status etc. The most common treatment protocol for such conditions is aggressive surgical debridement, which includes resection of involved maxillofacial structures such as the maxilla, orbit, and/or nose.Rehabilitation of such large maxillofacial defects is a Prosthodontic challenge, with many problems encountered such as lack of retention due to dislodging forces exerted by scarred postsurgical soft tissues, lack of bony base, lost structures of the posterior palatal seal area, multiple defect sites, and compromised medical status due to comorbidities, which also affects the defect's healing rate.For patients to survive, early diagnosis and treatment are frequently required. The clinical manifestations, etiopathogenesis, and management of the dreaded fungal infection known as mucormycosis in the head and neck region will be reviewed in this paper.