Prosthodontic considerations in the management of surgically compromised cleft palate patients

Prosthodontic habilitation with speech aid prostheses for surgically compromised cleft palate patients has been discussed. It can be concluded that surgical redivision of the soft palate with removal of the levator veli palatini muscles as an aid to construction of a pharyngeal obturator is contraindicated. Surgical redivision with removal of the levator muscles prevents subsequent surgical procedures and commits the patient to a prosthesis for life. The management of nonfunctional pharyngeal flaps, large soft palate perforations, and patients with palatopharyngeal insufficiency and/or incompetency secondary to surgical repairs was also discussed. If the prosthodontist is routinely consulted in the initial treatment planning, alternatives to surgical management might be considered for patients with high potential for postsurgical deficiencies.