Speech and dental prosthesis rehabilitation: integrative review

Abstract

Speech can be affected by installation of dentures, and the phonoarticulatory features resulting from the oral rehabilitation have been considered for measurement success of dental treatment. Although speech is mentioned in the adaptation process of dentures, there are shortages in the literature studies that addressed the speech pathologist or dental treatment outcome in the speech. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to investigating how the speech in denture users is reported in the literature in such a way as to contribute to the clinical practice to emphasize the scientific evidence on the subject. The integrative review was elected as search method. The bibliographical survey was conducted in the databases PubMed/MEDLINE, LILACS, Scopus, and Cochrane, in May-June 2013, by the following combination of descriptors, in Portuguese and English: speech, phonetics and speech therapy with dental prosthesis, dentures and dental implants. In total, 5,426 studies were found in the databases. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied to titles and abstracts, 13 articles were selected which were analyzed carefully. In speech approach, the phonetic was used for the prosthesis fabrication, and the phone [s] cited for detection and adjustments of speech disorders and the vertical dimension of occlusion. The molding of the palatal contour and rugae was also highlighted to improve speech. The level of evidence of studies was low, highlighting the lack of randomized controlled experimental or clinical studies in this area. Hence none article cited the adequacy of speech with phonetic training in speech therapy. Thus, we can conclude that speech in individuals undergoing prosthetic oral rehabilitation is addressed in the literature by means phonetic tests and  modifications in the prosthesis, performed by dentists.

.