Guttal, Vohra, Pillai, Nadiger chemotherapy, and radiation.5,6 In addition to the irreversible hydrocolloid material (Algitex, Dental conventional treatment methods, other options Products of India, Mumbai) (Figure 2). The irre- such as cryosurgery, Mohs micrographically con- versible hydrocolloid was reinforced with gauze trolled surgery, electrodessication, and photody- and dental plaster (Everest Brand, Panade Indus- namic treatment are also available for head and tries Pvt. Ltd., Nippani, India). The impression was neck cancers.7 poured into a Type-III dental stone (Kala Stone, Prosthetic rehabilitation of nasal defects after Kala Bhai Pvt. Ltd, Mumbai, India) (Figure 3). trauma or surgery has been well documented. The A nose was sculpted in wax on the resultant sequence of fabrication of an extraoral prosthesis cast, using the preoperative photographs. The includes a surgical, a provisional, and a definitive whole morphology and the anatomic contours prosthesis.8 Since an immediate surgical repair of the nose were developed according to normal of a midface defect is usually not feasible, an in- contours, the patient’s own descriptions of his terim provisional prosthesis may be considered. preoperative appearance, as well as the referenc- This prosthesis can be placed 2 to 3 weeks after es given by his close relatives. The trial wax pros- the surgery, to provide a cosmetically accept- able appearance. This clinical report describes the use of an interim nasal prosthesis in a patient who underwent partial rhinectomy for basal cell carcinoma. The usage of such an interim or pro- visional nasal prosthesis permitted the patient to resume social interaction more comfortably and confidently during the healing period and till the definitive prosthesis was fabricated. cAsE rEPort A 58-year-old male patient diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma of the nasal vestibule, had undergone partial rhinectomy, and was referred to the department of prosthodontics, SDM college of Dental Sciences, Dharwad, India. Examination revealed that the entire cartilage of the nose, ala, and part of the nasal septum had been resected (Figure 1). Being a bank employee who regularly ad- dressed customers, the patient expressed deep concern regarding his esthetic appearance. Due to his facial disfigurement, the patient was seeking a solution for his problem soon after the surgery. The patient was not aware of any of such prosthet- ic rehabilitations; however, when the procedure of provisional nasal prosthesis and its use was explained in detail, he chose to proceed with the treatment. The boundary for the impression was outlined on the face. Rolled modeling wax was used to con- fine the impression material (Hindustan Dental Products, Hyderabad, India). Care was taken not to distort the nasal remnants/tissues by blocking out the deep undercuts in the defect with moist gauze. The facial moulage was prepared using an October 2010 - Vol.4 Figure 1. Acquired nasal defect after partial rhinectomy. Figure 2. Irreversible hydrocolloid impression of the defect area and the surround- ing structures. 483 European Journal of Dentistry