Oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) is a chronic inflammatory disease that results in a progressive juxtaepithelial fibrosis of the oral soft tissues, causing an increasing difficulty in mouth opening, chewing, swallowing and speaking. It is regarded as a precancerous and potentially malignant condition. The fibrosis of oral mucosa leads to limited mouth opening and difficulty in mastication. Prosthetic rehabilitation of patients with OSMF offers a formidable challenge due to the restricted mouth opening. Management of the limited mouth opening is usually by surgery. Herein, we describe a procedure to maintain the increased mouth opening that is achieved through surgery. Maintaining this opening would make it easier for any further prosthetic rehabilitation at a later stage.
Keywords: Gunning splint; Microstomia; Oral submucous fibrosis; Sectional splint.