Prosthetic management of velopharyngal insufficiency - A case report

The position and movement of soft palate will determine the resonance of voice in healthy individuals, but due to some congenital anomalies like cleft palate the velar closures do not occur between oral and nasal pharynges leading to regurgitation of food and liquids. Speech is also hampered in such patients. There are two ways to correct such incompetence's, one by surgical corrections and second by prosthetic management. The treatment for such defects aims to provide these patients a socially acceptable speech, by overcoming of their deficiency and a good social relationship, which in turn also uplifts their psychological moral. Prosthetic management by “Palatal Lift Prosthesis” helps provides an effective and acceptable treatment option for such patients. In this case report Palatal Lift Prosthesis has been used as an interim prosthesis for managing the defect in between two surgeries for cleft palate repair in a 25 years old.