Palatal Lift and Speech Aid
Palatal Lift: an oral prosthesis which elevates the soft palate superiorly and aids in restoration of soft palate functions which may be lost due to an acquired, congenital or developmental defect.
The palatal lift prosthesis is designed to mechanically elevate a soft palate that is functionally impaired. Commonly, this prosthesis requires anchorage to the remaining dentition to achieve stability to elevate the soft palate. An intact, functional dentition is a prerequisite for achieving maximum support to elevate the soft palate.
Speech Aid: This prosthesis provides a mechanism to restore normal function of the soft palate and associated structures when velopharyngeal closure is incomplete due to an anatomic defect or a defect created because of ablative cancer surgery or radiotherapy.