title: Speech adaptation after treatment of full edentulism through immediate-loaded implant protocols.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of the present study was to evaluate the influence of immediate loading of implants on speech adaptation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten patients (mean age 54, 6 females) were examined before surgery and 1, 3, 6 and 12 months afterwards. Articulation analysis was done using objective DAT-recoded data evaluated by two groups of speech and language therapists and a computer software program. Besides, patient VAS-scores, myofunctional problems and hearing impairment were recorded and analysed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the present study only one patient suffered from deteriorated speech after immediate loading. Other patients showed unaffected or improved articulation 3 to 6 months after surgery with a strident and interdental pronunciation mostly becoming addental. Furthermore, myofunctional problems occurred in one patient, other patients adapted to the new situation after three months. Hearing impairment did not influence speech pathology in this study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Immediate loading of oral implants does not seem to compromise the normal 3-6 months speech adaptation period. Whether such procedure presents advantages to the conventional 2-stage rehabilitation remains to be investigated.
authors.affiliation: KULeuven - Oral Imaging Center, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Liene
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Molly
authors.forename: Olivia
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Nackaerts
authors.forename: Katrien
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vandewiele
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Manders
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: van Steenberghe
authors.forename: Reinhilde
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jacobs
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001184:Articulation Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous; D019094:Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported / Q000009:adverse effects; D003799:Dental Stress Analysis; D003825:Denture, Complete, Immediate; D005152:Facial Muscles / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006320:Hearing Tests; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009066:Mouth, Edentulous / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D013060:Speech / Q000502:physiology*; D013062:Speech Articulation Tests; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013637:Tape Recording; D013997:Time Factors