Hassel Alexander J, Holste Thomas
Department of Prosthodontics, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
Int J Prosthodont. 2006 Sep-Oct;19(5):499-503.
The aim of this pilot study was to investigate a universal and easy method for improving the speech function of complete maxillary dentures. Specifically, it was analyzed whether sandblasting could improve speech performance, since this process increases the tactile surface area in the region of tongue-to-denture contact.
Fourteen volunteers with complete maxillary dentures in a geriatric rehabilitation center (7 men, 7 women, mean age 81.2) were recruited. Speech samples (normal conversation, logopedic standard text, and a word list) were recorded for all subjects. In 11 cases, a specific area of the denture was sandblasted, while the remaining 3 cases served as controls. After 1 week of service, the same speech samples were recorded again. The rating of the speech samples was performed by 2 experienced speech therapists. The rater did not know whether the sample was a control case or whether it was before or after intervention.
The speech therapists found no difference between the 2 speech samples in all 3 cases in the control group. For 8 of 11 subjects, the speech sample after sandblasting was rated better by both therapists (P = .002). In 2 subjects, no difference was observed, and deterioration was found in only 1 subject by 1 speech therapist.
Taking into account the limited number of subjects, the results show that sandblasting may lead to moderate improvements in speech performance in most cases. Deterioration is not expected, but in such cases, it is easy to restore the denture with simple polishing.
本初步研究的目的是探索一种通用且简便的方法来改善全口上颌义齿的语音功能。具体而言，分析喷砂处理是否能改善语音表现，因为该过程会增加舌与义齿接触区域的触觉表面积。
招募了老年康复中心的14名佩戴全口上颌义齿的志愿者（7名男性，7名女性，平均年龄81.2岁）。记录了所有受试者的语音样本（正常对话、言语治疗标准文本和单词列表）。11例中，义齿的特定区域进行了喷砂处理，其余3例作为对照。使用1周后，再次记录相同的语音样本。语音样本由2名经验丰富的言语治疗师进行评分。评分者不知道样本是对照病例还是干预前后的样本。
言语治疗师发现对照组的所有3例中，两个语音样本之间没有差异。11名受试者中的8名，喷砂处理后的语音样本在两名治疗师的评分中均更高（P = 0.002）。2名受试者未观察到差异，只有1名受试者被1名言语治疗师发现语音恶化。
考虑到受试者数量有限，结果表明喷砂处理在大多数情况下可能会使语音表现得到适度改善。预计不会出现恶化情况，但万一出现，通过简单的打磨就很容易修复义齿。
