This study aimed at characterizing the speech and chewing of users of conventional complete dentures (CCD) before and after speech therapy and prosthetic functional adaptation. The participants consisted of 10 users, divided into two groups: experimental (G1) and control (G2). Both groups underwent the same speech therapy and chewing evaluation before and 15 days after prosthetic functional adaptation; G1 underwent speech therapy in the period before prosthetic functional adaptation, and G2 underwent prosthetic functional adaptation without speech-language intervention. As observed, G1 presented 60% of participants with phonetic and/or articular distortions and inadequate cut of the food and 80% with unilateral chewing; after therapy, no speech and masticatory alterations were observed, but the altered cut was seen in 100% of the group. In G2, 80% of the participants had speech and chewing alterations and 40% had an inadequate cut. After the therapy period, 60% of the subjects remained with speech alterations and 100% with altered cut and chewing alterations. It can be concluded that after prosthetic functional adaptation, the group that underwent speech therapy did not present the alterations initially detected, except for the cut of the food, as opposed to G2 in which the changes persisted, showing that prosthetic rehabilitation alone, did not reestablish functional patterns, speech-language intervention being required.

No abstract

Purpose: The changes in gustatory function resulting from oncological treatment occur mainly after radiotherapy. However, the head and neck tumors, because of the anatomical location of the lesion, can themselves trigger significant changes in the feeding-related functions - including taste. To assess the gustatory function in patients diagnosed with advanced oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer. Method: This descriptive cross-sectional study comprised 31 individuals with advanced oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer, referred for oncological treatment with radiotherapy, either alone or in combination with chemotherapy. The “taste strips” test was applied; it consists of inserting solutions with four different concentrations each for salty, sweet, and sour tastes, and three concentrations for the bitter taste, on the tongue. Results: Most of the individuals were diagnosed with oropharyngeal cancer. Approximately half of the sample already had taste-related complaints, and more than 80%, swallowing-related complaints. The overall frequency of hypogeusia was 38.7%, in which the bitter taste stood out in its isolated assessment. The association of change in gustatory function proved to be significant in patients in stage T4. Conclusion: The decrease in gustatory function in individuals with oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer was evidenced in this study, especially when associated with tumors in stage T4. Regarding feeding, most of them reported complaints of dysphagia, suggesting the importance of the speech-language-hearing assessment and follow-up, even before the oncological treatment, to minimize the risks of dysphagia.

No abstract

No abstract