![soft palate soft palate](https://www.smilesforlifeoralhealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/m7_soft2.jpg)
If the valve is closed too tightly then swallowing is very good but speaking will sound as if the patient has a cold or stuffy nose (hyponasality). Adjusting either of these prostheses is a fine balance between swallowing and speaking. In each case the patient will require some adjustments to the prosthesis as this is an area that moves every time the patient speaks or swallows. The process for making these prostheses requires a mold of the mouth to be made, and either a metal framework or an all plastic prosthesis will be used. A palatal lift prosthesis aids in repositioning the soft palate in the raised closed position. A soft palate obturator (also known as a speech and feeding aid/device) replaces the missing piece(s) of muscle(s) and fills the hole. This is accomplished by building one of several types of prostheses to plug the hole or pick up the soft palate. If the muscles are not altered in volume but fail to move due to disease or trauma to the nerves (whiplash, stroke, blunt force to back head, etc) or stiffening from radiation therapy the valve will not close completely and this is defined as palatopharyngeal incompetence (pă-lĭt'a-fa-rĭn' -jē'al ĭn-kŏm'pĭ-tans)Ī prosthodontist with maxillofacial prosthetics training often is able to aid in correcting palatopharyngeal inadequacies.This is known as palatopharyngeal insufficiency (pă-lĭt'a-fa-rĭn' -jē'al ĭn' sa- fĭsh'an-sē)
![soft palate soft palate](https://i2.wp.com/vocalprocess.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/SoftPalateInside1Small1.jpg)
If any part of the muscles are missing or altered from birth (cleft palate), surgery, or trauma the valve can have a hole in it.Patients are diagnosed with Palatopharyngeal inadequacy 1 (pă-lĭt'a-fa-rĭn' -jē'al, -făr'ĭn-jē'al ĭn-ăd'ĭ-kwa-sē) if there is any problem allowing complete closure of the sphincter and this is further defined as one or both of the following: This valve prevents food/liquid from going into the nose (nasopharynx) during swallowing and it prevents excessive air from escaping when speaking (hypernasality). velopharyngeal sphincter) and during swallowing and speaking the soft palate moves up and back, the side walls move in, and the back wall moves forward forming a valve. This group of muscles forms the palatopharyngeal sphincter (pă-lĭt'a-fa-rĭn' -jē'al sfĩngk'tar, syn. The soft palate forms the muscular back part of the roof of the mouth and vibrates when you say "AHH." The throat is made of several muscle groups and will be divided into the right and left side walls and the back wall. Swallowing and speaking are controlled at the level of the back of the mouth and top of the throat (orophayrnx) by complex movements of several muscles. In order to understand better how we speak and swallow this section will very briefly describe the anatomy that allows us to speak and swallow, describe the jobs of these muscles, and talk about some of the prosthetic devices that could aid in overcoming alterations made to these muscles by birth, trauma, or treatment of disease. To schedule an appointment with a specialist at Main Line Health, call 1. (1.866.225.5654) or use our secure online appointment request form.Speaking and swallowing are functions that many take for granted on a daily basis. If you or someone you know has problems associated with snoring or mild OSA, pillar procedure may be an option. It is generally not recommended for people with severe OSA or people who are very overweight or obese. Pillar procedure is a long-term solution with lasting results. Some patients notice improvement in snoring in just a few weeks while others may take a few months as the area around the inserts continues to heal. The procedure is done with local anesthesia (numbing of the area) and takes about 20 minutes to perform. The pillar procedure is a minor surgery that does not involve cutting away of tissue or bone, and does not require use of lasers, chemicals or radiofrequency energy. Minor surgical procedure with minimal side effects and recovery time As the tissue heals around the rods, the rods help “stiffen” the soft palate, therefore minimizing relaxation of the palate, which in turn reduces vibration that causes snoring, gasping, and other symptoms of OSA. The procedure involves implantation of three tiny polyester rods in the soft palate at the back of the roof of the mouth. Reducing vibration that causes snoring with surgical implantsįor people who have mild obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) or whose snoring is disrupting sleep, intimacy, and quality of life, the pillar procedure provides a noninvasive, surgical alternative to other sleep solutions such as continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and tongue advancement and tongue base reduction. Soft Palate Implants (Pillar Procedure).