Professor's New Dental Appliance to Positively Impact Cancer Patients' Quality of Life

Newswise — The innovative work of Assistant Professor Anthony Sena, chairman of the Department of Restorative Dentistry at New York City College of Technology (City Tech), will soon have an impact on the quality of life of cancer patients.

Sena, in collaboration with Dr Harshit Aggarwal of the postgraduate Prosthodontic Program at the University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ), has advanced the science of mouth restorations for patients who have lost a significant portion of their palatal bone and sinus cavity, and thus have difficulty eating and speaking. They have designed and constructed a new version of an existing dental appliance called an obturator.

The most prominent example of a patient who could have benefited from Sena's work was the late writer Lucy Grealy. In Autobiography of a Face (1994), she described her childhood and early adolescence experience with cancer of the jaw, which left her disfigured despite numerous facial reconstructive surgeries.

Using new technology, in six months Sena and his partner designed and fabricated their much improved version of the obturator. "Patients using a conventionally designed device were complaining about it being too heavy and falling out easily," says Sena. "Our obturator is lighter and stays in place better."

The two scientists used an advanced CAD/CAM system (Computer-Aided Design/Computer-Aided Manufacturing) purchased by City Tech a year ago, when only eight such systems existed worldwide. It is the only system which creates removable appliances. They worked with the program system's designers and software to design and manufacture the prosthesis.

Their more complex design is based on a three-dimensional schematic produced by the system's dedicated printer, which builds up the image in layers. Its framework was fabricated in three parts, put together with laser welding. "We added to the appliance the contours of the face, teeth and tissues, using chrome cobalt -- a stainless steel non-precious metal -- and an acrylic material that is used as a base for other dentures," explains Sena. "Our goal was to make a lighter, long-lasting obturator with a hollow structure designed for easier cleaning by the patient."

So far, three candidates for the appliance have been identified through the UMDNJ postgraduate Prosthodontic Program. The first, a man, has already been fitted with the first device produced using the new system. "Actually," says Sena, "we don't need to see a patient at all, but I did work with him for the trial fitting."

In February 2009, at the American Prosthodontic Society's 81st Annual Meeting in Chicago, Aggarwal did a presentation on their work, titled "New Application of CAD/CAM in Dental Technology," which won first prize in the poster competition.

At the 56th Meeting of the American Academy of Maxillofacial Prosthetics in October in Nashville, he gave a presentation titled "A Virtually Designed and Fabricated Obturator." He also presented "CAD/CAM Technology Wax-Ups" at the 38th Annual Session of the American College of Prosthodontics, also in Nashville in October. Sena and Aggarwal are currently preparing a scholarly article on their device to be published in a professional journal later this year.

Prevously, Sena had advised SensAble, a company that entered the dental field two years ago, in the development of a prototype appliance in response to calls from dentists. His advice helped them modify the product to achieve optimum results.

The Iselin, NJ, resident has an unusual academic and dentistry background, which began with earning a degree in chemistry while working several jobs to support himself. He also had an 11-year Air Force career, following the example of his Mescalero Apache father. Says Sena, "I enlisted not knowing what a dental lab technician was, but an Air Force MD told me to try to get into the program."

He then studied at the Community College of the Air Force and at the Sheppard Air Force Base School of Health Care Sciences. "I worked mostly with Dr. Robert Rudd, a very well-known prosthodontist, and with many other Air Force prosthodontists. Rudd was a Colonel and a Special Consultant for Prosthodontics."

Sena also had contact with Rudd's father, Kenneth, a renowned prosthodontist, during Rudd's occasional visits to conduct training seminars. Kenneth Rudd was director of the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Dental School's Department of Continuing Dental Education and one of the founders of the American College of Prosthodontics.

As a member of the Medical Squadron and later the Dental Squadron, Sena worked in medical and dental laboratories in Colorado and Okinawa, Japan; these labs supported all Air Force bases in Asia and the U.S., respectively.

After his tour of duty, he obtained an MBA degree from the Zicklin School of Business at Baruch College/CUNY. "Most laboratory technicians own their own businesses so that they don't have to work in a dentist's office; they work as contractors for dentists," he explains, "and I wanted to improve my business skills."

One rare achievement which Sena downplays is his 1984 Carnegie Hero Award. As a 19-year-old convenience store clerk, he attempted to rescue a woman who was being stabbed repeatedly. Sena ran to the counter, leaped it, forced the assailant's knife hand behind his back, then wrestled him to the floor and knocked the knife from his hand. He was also given the Citizen of the Year Award in San Bernardino, CA. Like many heroes, Sena, who had no background in self-defense, says of his bravery, "I didn't even think about it; it was just a reaction."

Now, with a lot of thought, research and skill, Sena hopefully will have a positive impact on the lives of many individuals for years to come.

New York City College of Technology (City Tech) of The City University of New York is the largest public college of technology in New York State. The College enrolls more than 14,000 students in 60 baccalaureate, associate and specialized certificate programs. An additional 15,000 students annually enroll in continuing education and workforce development programs.