Abstract
BACKGROUND: The classic maxillary full denture covers the whole palate, preventing the tongue from touching the denture base tissues itself. Thus, it has deleterious effects on cortical brain function and the ability to understand spoken language. AIM: This study aimed to determine the effect of anterior palatal surface modifications of the complete denture on speech intelligibility oral perception and cortical brain function activity. METHODS AND MATERIALS: This study compared the speech clarity, oral discernment, and cortical mind capability activity of complete denture wearers in three study groups: a) complete denture wearers with a small opening (SO) in the maxillary front palatal base; b) complete denture patients who wear regular complete denture; c) complete denture patients who did not wear complete denture; and d) complete denture patients who wear a functionally contoured modified palate (FCMP). Patients with no teeth at all underwent four phases of testing to assess their cognitive abilities and speech quality (pitch and volume). In the first phase, partial dentures were used. During phase 2, a conventional full denture was inserted. In the third phase, a palatal base denture was functionally altered. In phase 4, dentures with a little aperture at the front of the palatal base were used. Results: The values of pitch and intensity of sound in category A with FCMP modification I were 180.76 ± 24.12 and 73.27 ± 9.74, respectively. On the other hand, the values of pitch and intensity of sound in category B with FCMP modification I were 185.41 ± 27.29 and 73.91 ± 8.31, respectively. The values of pitch and intensity of sound in category A with SO modification II were 188.52 ± 21.11 and 76.13 ± 5.21, respectively. On the other hand, the values of pitch and intensity of sound in category B with SO modification II were 194.59 ± 24.02 and 75.21 ± 6.12, respectively. The findings for values of pitch and intensity were statistically significant among the four phases (p < 0.001). The highest speech intelligibility and cortical brain function were observed in phase 4 in both categories A and B, with the highest scores by experts of 3.21 and 3.42, respectively. Conclusion: Based on the findings of this in vivo investigation, it can be concluded that using modified dentures (modification types I and II) following denture installation improves speech intelligibility, oral perception, and cortical brain function activity.