PHONETICS

Speech is a very sophisticated autonomous and unconscious activity. Speech in matured man is a learned habitual neuromuscular pattern, which makes use of anatomical structures, designed primarily for respiration and deglutition. Because Oro-dental morphological features also may influence an individual speech, the dentist should therefore recognize the possible role of prosthetic treatment on speech activity. Contour of the palate for proper tongue contact is not difficult, time consuming, or expensive, however it does require some knowledge of the fundamentals of phonetics and a precise knowledge of the normal tongue contact areas for speech articulation.