Custom lingual augmentation prostheses for a patient with dysarthria, dysphagia, and functional deficits following complete glossectomy: A clinical report

This clinical report describes the treatment of a patient with dysarthria, dysphagia, and functional problems following a complete glossectomy subsequent to squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue. A conventional palatal augmentation prosthesis failed to alleviate the symptoms of dysphagia and dysarthria because of the severely restricted movement of the residual lingual tissues. Two custom lingual prostheses that were interchangeable on a single magnetic base were fabricated to assist the patient with speech and deglutition. The lingual augmentation prostheses improved patient symptoms compared with no prosthesis or the conventional palatal augmentation prosthesis. The psychological benefit of an anatomic lingual prosthesis made the greatest contribution to improving the patient's quality of life. This report outlines a novel method for improving oral functional and overall quality of life following complete glossectomy.