3‐D Analysis of Palatal Morphology Associated with Palatalized Articulation in Patients with Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate

Abstract

Palatalized articulation is one of the major articulation disorders which patients with cleft palate face after palatoplasty. Various causal factors have been suggested to date, but the main cause remains poorly understood. To clarify the possible causes of palatalized articulation in speakers with cleft palate, three‐dimensional palatal morphology in patients with/without palatalized articulation in unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) was analyzed. Twelve UCLP patients with palatalized articulation (P group) and 20 UCLP patients with normal articulation (N group) participated in the present study. Speech was assessed in the two groups at the age of about four. Dental casts of the maxilla taken at the same time were analyzed three‐dimensionally, and measurements in the horizontal, frontal, and sagittal planes were compared between patients with palatalized articulation and those with normal articulation. All dental casts were measured with a non‐contact 3D laser scanner and the 3D data were analyzed with 3D‐analyzing software. Our study demonstrated three major findings of palatal morphology in UCLP patients with palatalized articulation when compared with their non‐palatalized counterparts : 1) the posterior region of the palate was narrow in the horizontal plane, 2) asymmetry of the anterior palate was severe in the frontal plane, and 3) the palate was flat and shallow in the sagittal plane. These findings suggested that palate deformities can affect the lingual‐contact pattern, and may account for the backward movement of the articulation point.

Palatal volume estimation in operated unilateral and bilateral cleft lip and palate subjects using digital study models

“…Conventionally, dental study models are measured for intermolar (IM) and intercanine (IC) width, palatal height, and palatal length. These measurements quantify the maxillary arch constriction in transverse dimensions through IM/IC widths, in the anteroposterior direction as palatal length and the vertical as palatal depth . The palatal measurements were obtained by measuring plaster study models using vernier callipers or Korkhaus 3D palate measuring device .…”

Perceptual-Speech, Nasometric, and Cephalometric Results after Modified V-Y Palatoplasties with or without Mucosal Graft

“…The causes of articulation disorders might be related to the younger age of the present subjects. Furthermore, several other factors have been described as causes of lateralized distortion and palatal/velar backed articulation, such as palatal fistula (Hoch et al, 1986; Golding-Kushner, 1995), an abnormal palatal morphology or dental arch (Laine, 1986; Okazaki et al, 1991; Nishikubo et al, 2009), and velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) (Peterson-Falzone, 1986). In the present series, we could assess the position and incidence of the residual palatal fistulae following the palatal repair in only the MG group.…”

Inflammatory Responses in Oro-Maxillofacial Region Expanded Using Anisotropic Hydrogel Tissue Expander

“…Comprehensive reconstructive treatment of facial clefts requires thoughtful consideration to obtain a proper quality and quantity of available soft tissue [ 4 ]. Additionally, proper speech is the main goal following repair of palatal function, yet it is hard to be achieved due to soft tissue tension secondary to a traditional flap [ 5 ]. Reconstruction of large facial defects following tumor excision has been challenging due to lack of local tissues and less satisfactory aesthetics outcome due to color mismatching when distant free grafts are used [ 6 ].…”