title: An appliance based approach to the management of palatopharyngeal incompetency: a clinical pilot project.
abstract: The palatal lift appliance has been described in the dental literature for more than 30 years, yet its efficacy remains controversial in the management of palatopharyngeal incompetency during speech. A pilot project was undertaken to develop a clinical research protocol. In the pilot project, 32 patients had palatopharyngeal incompetency managed with a palatal lift appliance. The results of the treatment were that 21 of the 32 patients experienced reduction programs but, of these, seven still required surgery. Before firm conclusions on the use of the palatal lift appliance can be made, objective, measurable assessment of speech through well-designed clinical protocols is required.
authors.affiliation: Division of Removable Prosthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Wolfaardt
authors.forename: F B
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rochet
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: McPhee
mesh_terms: D000180:Acrylic Resins; D004724:Endoscopy; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D009666:Nose / Q000502:physiology; D010160:Palate, Soft / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D010614:Pharynx / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011312:Pressure; D013061:Speech Acoustics; D013064:Speech Disorders / Q000628:therapy; D013065:Speech Intelligibility; D013070:Speech Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013997:Time Factors; D014681:Velopharyngeal Insufficiency / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D000180:Acrylic Resins