Oral rehabilitation of a patient with complete unilateral cleft lip and palate using an implant-retained speech-aid prosthesis: clinical report.
OBJECTIVE
To report the oral rehabilitation of velopharyngeal insufficiency due to a congenital anatomic defect using an implant-retained speech-aid prosthesis.


METHODS
A 65-year-old man with a diagnosis of complete unilateral cleft lip and palate on the left side with an unrepaired palate was examined. A removable partial denture with a speech bulb had been used for approximately 40 years. After primary care for gross caries and tooth mobility, an implant-retained obturator with a speech bulb was fabricated.


CONCLUSIONS
Improvement in mastication, speech, and velopharyngeal function was achieved with a satisfactory esthetic result.
Abreu
Amara
A
Oral Rehabilitation Department, School of Dentistry, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta 30912, USA. aabreu@mcg.edu
Levy
Daniel
D
Rodriguez
Enrique
E
Rivera
Irma
I
D000368:Aged; D001184:Articulation Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002971:Cleft Lip / Q000150:complications / Q000534:rehabilitation; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000150:complications / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous; D019094:Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported; D006801:Humans; D007575:Jaw, Edentulous / Q000150:complications / Q000534:rehabilitation; D008297:Male; D010158:Palatal Obturators; D014681:Velopharyngeal Insufficiency / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*