A New Membrane Obturator Prosthesis Concept for Soft Palate Defects

When soft palate defects lead to palatal insufficiency, the patient's quality of life is affected by difficulties swallowing, hypernasality, and poor intelligibility of speech. If immediate surgical reconstruction is not an option, the patient may benefit from the placement of a rigid obturator prosthesis. Unfortunately, the residual muscle stumps are often unable to adequately move this stiff and inert obturator to properly restore the velopharyngeal valve function. In the present case history report, a new membrane obturator concept is described: Using a dental dam to compensate for the soft palate defect, swallowing and speech were significantly improved.