MANAGEMENT OF PARTIALLY EDENTULOUS PATIENT WITH VELOPHARYNGEAL INSUFFICIENCY– A CASE REPORT

The velopharynx is a vital structure as it controls speech and its resonance, sucking, whistling and swallowing. The defect in the
integrity of this structure leads unintelligible speech, nasal regurgitation of the fluids, difficulty in swallowing and sucking. The
difficulty in feeding has adverse effects on the general health of the patient and the unintelligibility of the speech has great
psychosocial influences. The closure of the soft palate defect to control nasal emission during speech and prevent leakage of foods and
liquids is usually accomplished by the fabrication of a partial denture or complete denture. The case report describes the management
of a partially edentulous patient with partial mandibulectomy and velopharyngeal insufficiency using a velophyrangeal obturator.