title: A simplified palatal lift prosthesis for neurogenic velopharyngeal incompetence.
abstract: Velopharyngeal incompetence is a contributing factor to speech disorders and implies the presence of hypernasality, inappropriate nasal escape, and decreased air pressure during speech. One prosthetic treatment is a rehabilitative procedure employing a palatal lift prosthesis (PLP), which reduces hypernasality by approximating the incompetent soft palate to the posterior pharyngeal wall and consists of two parts, the anterior denture base and the palatal lifting plate, which are connected with steel wires; however, it seems difficult to reproduce the mobility of the soft palate in speaking, and it is therefore likely that the palatal lifting plate stimulates or oppresses the tissue of the soft palate and hinders rather than assists articulatory function. To avoid these disturbances we devised an adjustable PLP with a flexible conjunction between the denture base and the palatal lifting plate to obtain the optimal vertical lifting angle. The palatal plate was adapted to conform in a passive manner to the soft palate with light-cured resin. The designed PLP simplified the procedure and reduced the number of adjustments and visits.
authors: Prosthodontics Department, Faculty of Medicine and Odontology, University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain. benitorilop@yahoo.es
authors: Benito
authors: B
authors: Rilo
authors: Noelia
authors: N
authors: Fernández-Formoso
authors: Luis
authors: L
authors: da Silva
authors: Joâo Carlos
authors: JC
authors: Pinho
mesh_terms: D000180:Acrylic Resins / Q000737:chemistry; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications; D004401:Dysarthria / Q000534:rehabilitation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009969:Orthodontic Wires; D010160:Palate, Soft / Q000503:physiopathology; D010614:Pharynx / Q000503:physiopathology; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D060489:Prosthesis Retention / Q000295:instrumentation; D013067:Speech Perception / Q000502:physiology; D013070:Speech Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D014681:Velopharyngeal Insufficiency / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000180:Acrylic Resins; C060386:Triad resin
keywords: Dysarthria; brain injury; speech-aid prostheses; velopharyngeal incompetence