• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.193-198
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• 2014

Purpose: The present study was aimed to investigate the variation of soft palate morphology in different age and gender groups. The correlations of radiographic velar length (VL), velar width (VW), pharyngeal depth (PD), and Need's ratio with soft palate variants were also studied in the North Indian subpopulation. Materials and Methods: The study sample consisted of 300 subjects aged between 15 and 45 (mean: 31.32) years. The velar morphology on lateral cephalograms was examined and grouped into six types. The results obtained were subjected to a statistical analysis to find the correlation between variants of the soft palate with gender and different age groups. Results: The most frequent type of soft palate was leaf shaped (48.7%), and the least common was crook shaped (3.0%) among both the genders and various age groups, showing a significant correlation. The mean VL, VW, and PD values were significantly higher in males and significantly correlated with the types of soft palate. A significant correlation was observed between the mean VL, VW, PD, and Need's ratio with various age groups, showing an inconsistent pattern with an increase in age. The types of soft palate, gender, and Need's ratio were also significantly correlated, with an overall higher mean value of the Need's ratio among female subjects and the S-shaped soft palate. Conclusion: The knowledge of a varied spectrum of velar morphology and the variants of the soft palate help in a better understanding of the velopharyngeal closure and craniofacial anomalies.

• The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.229-234
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• 2016

PURPOSE. The purpose of this study was to investigate the demographic patterns of maxillofacial prosthetic treatment to identify the characteristics and geographic distribution of patients with maxillofacial prosthetics in the capital region of Korea. MATERIALS AND METHODS. This retrospective analytical multicenter study was performed by chart reviews. This study included patients who visited the department of prosthodontics at four university dental hospitals for maxillofacial prosthetic rehabilitation. Patients with facial and congenital defects or with insufficient medical data were excluded. The patients were classified into three categories based on the location of the defect. Patients' sex, age, and residential area were analyzed. Pearson's chi-square test with a significance level of 0.05 was used to analyze the variables. RESULTS. Among 540 patients with maxillofacial prosthetics, there were 284 (52.59%) male patients and 256 (47.41%) female patients. The number of the patients varied greatly by hospital. Most patients were older than 70, and the most common defect was a hard palate defect. Chi-square analysis did not identify any significant differences in sex, age, and distance to hospital for any defect group (P>.05). CONCLUSION. The results of this study indicated that there was imbalance in the distribution of patients with maxillofacial prosthetic among the hospitals in the capital region of Korea. Considerations on specialists and insurance policies for the improvement of maxillofacial prosthetics in Korea are required.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.529-545
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• 1996

In order to find the distribution, causes and treatments of cleft lip and/or palate, I analyzed 113 patients of cleft lip and/or palate who were treated in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Dentistry, Wonkwang University, Iksan, Chunbuk, KOREA from September 1984 to August 1995. The obtained results were as follows. 1. In total 113 patients of cleft lip and/or palate, male patients were 63 cases (56%) and female patients were 50 cases (44%). 2. In distribution of cleft lip and/or palate, cleft lip patients were 30 cases (27%), cleft palate patient were 23 cases (20%) and cleft lip and palate patients were 60 cases (53%). 3. Unilateral cleft lip patients (78 cases: 87%) were larger than bilateral cleft lip. In unilateral cleft lip patients, lip side cleft lip patients (45 cases: 50%) were larger than right side cleft lip patients (33 cases: 37%). 4. Possible causes of cleft lip and/or palate were related with familial tendency, drug intoxication, malnutrition, old maternal age, stress and hypoxia during 4-8 weeks of pregnancy period. 5. The favorite treated method of cleft lip was Millard rotation-advancement method. Probably the most popular operated period was 3 months. 6. The useful operating technique of cleft palate was Wardill V-Y flap method. The most popular period has been 18 to 24 months. 7. In 11 patients with velopharyngeal insufficiency, hypernasality decreased by superior based pharyngeal flap pharyngoplasty. 8. Cleft alveolus was treated with autogenous and allogeneic bone graft. The most appropriate operation period was 9 to 11 years.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.542-550
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• 2020

Background This study aimed to identify the initial diagnostic characteristics and treatment status of children with submucous cleft palate (SMCP) and to examine the relationship between the timing of surgical correction and the degree of articulation and resonance improvement. Methods This retrospective study included 72 children diagnosed with SMCP between 2008 and 2016. The evaluation criteria were the age of the initial visit, total number of visits, age at the end of treatment, speech problems, resonance problems, and speech therapy. Results Children with SMCP first visited the hospital at an average age of 34.32 months, and speech problems were identified at an average age of 48.53 months. Out of 72 children, 46 underwent surgery at an average age of 49.74 months. Four of these children required secondary surgery at an average age of 83.5 months. Among the children who underwent surgery before 3 years of age, 70% exhibited articulation improvements, with mild-to-moderate hypernasality. Articulation improvements showed no statistically significant differences according to age at the time of surgery. However, children who underwent surgery before 4 years had a better hypernasality rating than those who underwent surgery after 4 years of age. Conclusions Children with SMCP tend to undergo delayed treatment because the anatomical symptoms in some children with SMCP are unclear, and surgical interventions are considered only after speech problems are clarified. Starting interventions as early as possible reduces the likelihood of receiving secondary surgery and speech therapy, while increasing expectations for positive speech function at the end.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.33-48
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• 2005

Differential diagnosis of articulation and resonance problems in the cleft lip and palate speech is required for evaluating various factors contribute to speech problems such as VPI, dental occlusion, palatal fistulae, learning. However, validity of speech stimuli is current issue to evaluate accurately each problem in cleft speech. This study was conducted to investigate speech stimuli using in the clinical setting and review the literatures and articles published 1990 to 2005 for helping develop standardized speech samples. The results were recommendation to evaluate properly velopharyngeal function when conducting a diagnostic evaluation as follows : 1) In identification hypernasality, the speech stimuli should be included low pressure consonants to eliminate effects of nasal emission, compensatory articulation. 2) Speech stimuli should be consist of visual, front sounds to eliminate compensatory articulation and to stimulate easily. 3) Regarding early diagnosis and treatment, speech stimuli need to develop for infants and preschooler. 4) Stimulus length on nasalance scores should be at least 6 syllables. 5) In phonetic context on nasalance scores, /i/ vowel should be take into consideration excluding paragraph. 6) Connected speech stimuli should be developed for evaluating intelligibility and VP function.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.25-30
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• 2012

Background : The soft palate functions as a valve and helps generate the oral pressure required for normal speech resonance. Speech problems and nasal regurgitation can result from a soft palatal defect. Reduction of the size of the velopharyngeal orifice is required to compensate for the lack of mobility in a reconstructed soft palate. We suggest a large volume folded free flap for reduction of the caliber and a palmaris longus tendon sling for suspension of the reconstructed palate. Methods : Six patients had total soft palate resection for tonsillar cancer and reconstruction with a large volume folded radial forearm free flap combined with a palmaris longus sling. A single surgeon and speech therapist examined the patients with three standardized speech assessment tools: nasometer test, consonant articulation test, and speech acuity test performed for speech evaluation. Results : Mean nasalance score was 76.20% for sentences with nasal sounds and 43.60% for sentences with oral sounds. Hypernasality was seen for oral sound sentences. The mean score of the picture consonant articulation test was 84% (range, 63% to 100%). The mean score of the speech acuity test was 5.84 (range, 5 to 6). These mean ratings represent a satisfactory level of speech function. Conclusions : The large volume folded free flap with a palmaris longus tendon sling for total soft palate reconstruction resulted in satisfactory prognosis for speech despite moderate hypernasality.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.143-151
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• 2007

One of the treatment methods for maxillary cancers or infections in maxilla is maxillectomy. Palatal defect can be resulted from this operation and it may cause functional problems with swallowing and speech, and psychological problems of patients. After maxillectomy, as rehabilitation, there can be two options. One is a prosthodontic treatment using obturator and the other is surgical reconstruction of defect with graft. As both methods have advantages and disadvantages, in determining treatment method after maxillectomy, various factors have to be considered. The purpose of this study is to compare the prosthodontic group to surgical group after maxillectomy with elapsed days prior to commencement of postoperative oral feeding, and to analyze the results of prosthodontic treatment and surgical treatment. During the period from March of 2000 to June of 2006, 74 patients were treatment by prosthodontic methods for maxillary defect. Among these patients, patients who had only velopharyngeal deficiency after surgery, whose data were incomplete, whose causes of palatal defect were not the treatment of diseases in maxilla, and who already had palatal defect due to previous surgery were excluded in this study. The patients who underwent maxillectomy for the treatment of diseases in the maxilla and were treated immediately after operation using surgical reconstruction or prosthodontic rehabilitation were included in this study. The records of 43 patients were reviewed to compare and to analyze the prosthodontic treatment and surgical reconstruction after maxillectomy. The median of days elapsed prior to commencement of postoperative oral feeding in the prosthodontic group was compared with data of surgical group. The data was analyzed using the Mann-Whitney test (${\alpha}$=.05). Days elapsed prior to postoperative oral feeding commencement in the prosthodontic group were less than those in the surgical group.

• Korean Journal of Cleft Lip And Palate
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.69-82
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• 2012

Our Team Approach consists of following five stages; (1) Peri-natal care until lip repair After ultrasound diagnosis, some obstetricians recommend the mother with CL/P fetus to undergo prenatal counseling in our CLP clinic. On the day the CL/P baby was born, our oral surgeon, nurse, and pedodontist visit the maternity clinic, and take counseling and take impression for a feeding plate. The cheiloplasty is performed in three months old. (2) From lip repair to palatal repair At one year of age, Otorhinolaryngologist checks middle-ear disease. Palatoplasty is carried out at 1.5 - 2 years old. (3) In deciduous and early mixed dentitions Speech is the most important issue in social life for the CL/P subjects, therefore the training of velopharyngeal function is essential. Orthodontist monitors dentofacial development from 5 years of age. In the case of severe maxillary under-growth or severe collapse, maxillary protractor or lateral expansion is indicative, respectively. In early mixed dentition, upper central incisor on the cleft area erupts with some torsion, and then the traumatic occlusion with tooth torsion must be corrected. (4) In mixed dentition Right before the eruption of upper canines, secondary bone grafting is performed. One year prior to the operation, maxillary fan-type expansion is carried out to correct the collapse of maxillary segments. Following the surgical operation, the erupted canine will be moved into the transplanted bone to avoid alveolar resorption. (5) In permanent dentition Final tooth alignment is carried out after eruption of second molars. Some cases may require orthognathic surgery after physical maturation. Prosthetic oral rehabilitation including the dental-implant is carried out after age eighteen.

• Korean Journal of Cleft Lip And Palate
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2008

In cleft palate patient, characteristic of speech disorder is the resonance disorder result from velopharyngeal incompetence. Clinically VPI caused by congenital factor as congenital palatal incompetence, submucosal cleft palate, and caused by acquired factor as CNS damage, tumor, palatal palsy. The clinicians more concerned about the speech disorders after cleft palate surgery rather than language pathologist. The resonance disorder devided for hypernasality, hyponasality and nasal emission, but as a rule, hypernasality is typical phenomenon of the resonance disorder. Traditionally clinicians and language pathologists evaluated four-stage or five-stage of hypernasality by subjective assessment. Although language pathologist is well-trained, results of the language level should be different. In late 1980s, Kay Elemetrics Corp. developed nasometer that objective nasalance identified with well-trained language pathologist and originate from nasometer Tonar I and II were developed by Fletcher. Therefore objective nasalance test was possible, the nasometer used in hospital, collage and speech clinic both and home and abroad. Standardization of the cleft palate speech assessment must be settled without delay because of different character result in different language and different assessment results by dialect in same language. In our study, we provide the data base for the standardization of cleft palate speech assessment which through report of objective assessment method, speech therapy effects and problems result in interdisciplinary teamwork by nasometer use in treatment of cleft palate patient.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.53-60
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• 2009

Maxillary deficiency, anterior cross bite, constriction of maxillary arch, malaligned teeth are frequently observed in patients with cleft lip and palate. Surgery and orthodontics, combined intervention are needed to correct maxillary deficiency. Distraction osteogenesis that currently used has many advantages like less relapse tendency, more advancement of maxilla, capable in growing patients. In case 1, 18 years old girl with BCLP had severe midfacial deficiency and multiple missing of teeth. LeFort I osteotomy, followed by maxillary distraction osteogenesis utilizing rigid external distraction device(RED) system, was performed. After a 6-day latency period, distraction proceeded at a rate of 1mm per day (at 1st week, 1.5mm/day). Total advancement was 19mm. The RED device left in place for the additional 4 weeks for consolidation. After the RED device was removed, face mask was applied with elastic traction for 5 weeks. After achieving acceptable facial appearance and occlusion, orthodontic appliance was removed. The results after 4 years follow-up was sustained pretty well without aggravation of velopharyngeal function. In case 2, 22 years old man with UCLP had severe midfacial deficiency and palatally erupted upper 2nd premolars due to arch length discrepancy, but the anterior segment of maxillary did not show constriction and crowding. patient had no arch width discrepancy, crowding was concentrated on premolar region. Segmental LeFort I osteotomy was performed. After a 6 - day latency period, using internal distraction device, distraction proceeded at a 0.5mm per day(at 1st week, 0.75 - 1 mm/day). Total advancement was 15mm. After internal distraction device was removed, face mask was applied with elastic traction for 4 weeks. After surgical-orthodontic treatment, facial appearance and occlusion was improved pretty good, and after 46 months follow-up the result was retained well.