Main

Mays KA, Stone M. Arch Oral Biol 2011; 56: 474–482

How should a dentist care for a patient who complains that their new prosthesis has affected their speech? Indeed, can an appliance alter speech? This study tracked jaw movements in 12 volunteers when the fricative 's' was enunciated before and after altering the geometry of the oral cavity with an acrylic palatal appliance (by either anteriorly or posteriorly increasing the thickness of the appliance by 5 mm). Acoustic data was captured with a microphone. Speech was affected after insertion of the appliance but, after 2 weeks, adaption occurred. The investigators suggest that 'this adjustment is generated by sensory and auditory feedback in order to achieve the acoustical target.' The vertical jaw position was stable implying that the tongue and/or larynx carried out this compensation. When the device was removed, there was a speech disturbance 'overshoot'.