Speech pattern improvement following gingivectomy of excess palatal tissue

Area of Science:

• Periodontology
• Speech Pathology
• Linguistics

Background:

• Excessive gingival tissue impacting speech is underrepresented in periodontal literature.
• Limited documentation exists on treatment outcomes for gingival overgrowth affecting speech.
• This case report addresses speech improvements following periodontal surgery.

Observation:

• A patient with excessive palatal gingival tissue experienced speech disruptions.
• The patient underwent bilateral gingivectomies of palatal tissues.
• Surgical intervention involved inverse bevel incisions and excision of tissue.

Findings:

• The patient reported immediate changes in tongue-palate contact and speech patterns post-surgery.
• Enunciation of specific sounds like "s," "sh," and "k" significantly improved.
• Improved linguopalatal contact was observed following the gingivectomy.

Implications:

• Gingival excess in palatal areas can alter normal linguopalatal contact during speech.
• Surgical correction of excessive gingival tissue may enhance speech patterns.
• This highlights the potential for periodontal interventions to improve speech function.