Yumeno-Kaiwa Project

―Fabrication of Flat-PAP and Tongue Prosthesis for Restoring Speech of Glossectomy Patient―

Abstract

The Okayama Yumeno-Kaiwa Project was established for restoring the speech of glossectomy patients in 2015 by the late Prof. Ken-ichi Kozaki, who was an oncologist, researcher and also a tongue-cancer patient. The outpatient clinic of this project provides tongue prosthesis treatment for total and subtotal glossectomy patients. Different from conventional palatal augmentation prosthesis （PAP）, a newly-developed PAP with flat palatal surface （Flat-PAP） is used to control the exhalation flow to restore the place for articulation. The silicone tongue prosthesis for subtotal glossectomy was manipulated by the residual tongue when the residual tongue had enough physical ability, and that for total glossectomy was controlled by jaw open-close movement. Both of these prostheses were most effective with the use of Flat-PAP. This article introduces the structure and concept of the tongue prosthesis.