Prosthetic Rehabilitation of the Soft Palate: A Major Functional Challenge

The dynamic movements of the velopharyngeal sphincter are a complex motor mechanism requiring coordination between the soft palate and the lateral and posterior walls of the pharynx. Lowering the soft palate allows the oropharynx and nasopharynx to open simultaneously, facilitating normal nasal breathing. On the other hand, certain functions, such as swallowing or the pronunciation of certain phonemes, require complete or almost complete velopharyngeal closure or a modulated opening according to functional needs. Any alteration in this mechanism can have a profound effect on various functions, in particular phonation disorders (manifested by hypernasality and unintelligible speech), dysphagia and air and fluid leakage. The aim of this article is to describe the prosthetic management of a patient with a velar defect following surgical resection of a tumour process, highlighting the constraints encountered and the specific features of this clinical situation.