Articulation Performance of Patients Wearing Obturators with Different Buccal Extension Designs

Abstract

ABSTRACTObjectives: The primary goal of prosthetic obturation is closure of the maxillectomy defect and separation of the oral cavity from the sino-nasal cavities by use of different bulb designs. The aim of this study was to evaluate the articulation performance of obturator patients with three different buccal extension designs.Methods: Five patients with palatal defects of comparable sizes at ages ranging from 42 to 74 were evaluated. Starting at postoperative 4 months, speech intelligibility (SI) was assessed without a prosthetic obturator and with an obturator of buccal extensions 15 mm (high), 10 mm (medium) and 5 mm (low), respectively. Assessments were performed at four week intervals for adaptation. The articulation performance of patients with different buccal extension designs were evaluated on speech intelligibility. The data tested using Friedman test.Results: The mean SI score without an obturator was 45.04%±5.86%. SI was found to be significantly increased with obturators of any buccal extensions with the mean values 90.50, %94.24% and 91.20% for high, medium, and low buccal extensions respectively. When the SI score was compared between three buccal extension types medium was found to be significantly higher compared to others (P<.05).Conclusions: Obturators improve speech intelligibility irrespective of their buccal extension levels. Nevertheless, medium size buccal extension enables the optimum sealing for better articulation. (Eur J Dent 2009;3:185-190)