2020 Volume 12 Issue 4 Pages 368-371
Patient: The patient was a 64-year-old male who was referred by a head and neck surgeon for preoperative examination of carcinoma of the floor of the mouth and tongue. After surgery, his tongue and floor of the mouth were reconstructed using a rectus abdominis flap. The patient developed dysarthria and dysphagia due to a decline in tongue mobility. A treatment denture was placed which aimed to both recover oral function and determine the form of the final prosthesis. Functional training determined the shape of the final prosthesis.
Discussion: Speech and swallowing functions were improved by the treatment denture and final prosthesis. Favorable results were obtained by cooperation with dentists and speech therapists throughout the process from the early postoperative period.
Conclusions: The form of the prosthesis in coordination with functional movement is important to improve both dysarthria and dysphagia in patients with reduced tongue mobility after surgery.
