Pharyngeal obturator prosthetic rehabilitation of velopharyngeal insufficiency

Abstract

Congenital or acquired defects of soft palate cause physical, functional and psychological disabilities. Surgical closure or prosthetic rehabilitation are the two treatment modalities. If surgery is contraindicated, prosthetic rehabilitation is the alternative treatment option. Pharyngeal obturator prosthesis provides adequate closure of the velopharyngeal insufficiency. In this case report, a young patient is treated for velopharyngeal insufficiency with pharyngeal obturator as the patient had refused to undergo surgical closure. The prosthesis was successfully fabricated and was evaluated for proper functioning. It improved speech, deglutition and psychological well-being of the patient.