Rehabilitation of a patient with limited oral opening following glossectomy.

Rehabilitation of the glossectomy patient is one of the most difficult and challenging problems for the prosthodontist and speech pathologist. The tongue plays an important role in articulation, control of secretions, formation of a bolus, propulsion of the bolus toward the pharynx, clearing the palate, and initiation of the swallow reflex. This paper presents speech and prosthodontic considerations for a patient who underwent a glossectomy and had the additional problem of reduced oral opening.