Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Search research articles

Related Experiment Videos

Obturation of the partial soft palate defect.

Mark S Chambers¹, James C Lemon, Jack W Martin

¹Department of Head and Neck Surgery, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, The University of Texas, Houston 77030-4009 USA. mchamber@mdanderson.org

The Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry

|January 24, 2004

Summary

Reconstructing partially resected soft palates prosthetically is challenging. This study introduces a new technique for accurately recording defect contours to improve obturation and speech outcomes.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

IL-1α Expands SLC2A1highSPP1highIFNlow Myeloid Cells to Drive Immune Escape and Malignant Transformation of Pre-cancers.

Cancer research·2026

Same author

The differential effects of social support on quality of life in head and neck cancer patients in the United States and China.

European journal of oncology nursing : the official journal of European Oncology Nursing Society·2026

Same author

Pharyngeal obturator using a combined conventional and digital approach: A clinical report.

The Journal of prosthetic dentistry·2026

Same author

Radiation-specific Automated Dosimetric dental, Mandible, and maxilla Annotation for Predicting Periodontal Problems (RADMAP): A semi-automated tool for dosimetric oral risk communication and osteoradionecrosis assessment.

medRxiv : the preprint server for health sciences·2025

Same author

Autostent: a semi-automated approach to designing customized 3D-printed oral radiation stents for patients with head and neck cancer.

Radiation oncology (London, England)·2025

Same author

Image-based mandibular and maxillary parcellation and annotation using computed tomography (IMPACT): a deep learning-based clinical tool for orodental dose estimation and osteoradionecrosis assessment.

Physics and imaging in radiation oncology·2025

Area of Science:

Dentistry
Prosthodontics
Speech Pathology

Background:

Partial soft palate resection poses significant challenges for prosthetic obturation.
Inadequate obturation can lead to velopharyngeal dysfunction (VPD), causing hypernasal speech and nasal regurgitation.
Current methods for managing partial soft palate defects may not always achieve functional rehabilitation.

Purpose of the Study:

To present a novel technique for recording the contours of partial soft palate defects.
To facilitate improved prosthetic obturation for patients with partial soft palate resections.
To enhance functional outcomes, including speech and swallowing, after oncologic or traumatic resection.

Main Methods:

A technique for accurately capturing the three-dimensional contours of a partial soft palate defect is described.

Related Experiment Videos

This method involves specific impression or scanning procedures tailored to the unique geometry of the defect.

The recorded contours are intended for the precise fabrication of obturator prostheses.

Main Results:

The presented technique allows for detailed and accurate recording of irregular defect shapes.
This improved data acquisition is expected to lead to better-fitting obturators.
Enhanced obturator fit is anticipated to improve velopharyngeal function and reduce symptoms of VPD.

Conclusions:

The described technique offers a viable solution for the prosthetic rehabilitation of partial soft palate defects.
Accurate contour recording is crucial for successful obturation and management of velopharyngeal dysfunction.
This method has the potential to significantly improve the quality of life for patients with partial soft palate defects.