Oral functions - feeding and speech

Question 1

What provides an anterior oral ‘seal’ when eating

Answer 1

Lips

Question 2

How is food moved from the front of the mouth to the posterior teeth

Answer 2

Food is gathered on tongue tip

Tongue retracts, pulling the
material to the posterior teeth
(pull back process; takes about
one second ).

associated with retraction of the
hyoid bone and narrowing of
the oropharyn

Question 3

What changes in the oesophagus help move food to back of mouth

Answer 3

Retraction of hyoid bone and narrowing of the oropharynx

Question 4

What muscles are involved in food processing

Answer 4

–the “mandibular
muscles”
–the supra-hyoid
muscles
–the tongue muscles
–the lips and cheek

Question 5

What are the mandibular (masticatory) muscles

Answer 5

Masseter
Temporalis
Lateral pterygoid
Medial pterygoid

Question 6

What is tooth pushing and tongue pushing

Answer 6

The tongue and cheeks act in a reciprocal
manner to place the food on the occlusal
surfaces of the teeth

Question 7

What physiological difference is there between the oral cavity when ingesting solid foods and liquids

Answer 7

During processing of solid foods, the mouth is continuous with the oropharynx
A posterior oral seal may be produced during the ingestion of Liquids (liquids are swallowed from the mouth ..ie without Stage II transport)

Question 8

What is the ‘squeeze back’ mechanism

Answer 8

The contact zone moves progressively backwards, squeezing the processed food
through the fauces

Question 9

What are the phases in the chewing cycle

Answer 9

Closing
Occlusal
Opening

Question 10

What happens during each phase of the chewing cycle

Answer 10

Closing phase (jaw elevator muscles are active)
Opening phase (Jaw depressor muscles are active)
Occlusal phase (mandible is stationary/Teeth joined)

Question 11

When are dentures with cusped teeth favourable

Answer 11

If the patient performs ruminatory mandibular movements as these will acheive balanced occlusion

Question 12

What does a denture with evenly worn (flat surfaces) indicate

Answer 12

Vertical (chopping) mandibular movements

Question 13

What is the benefit of mechanical breakdown of food in the mouth

Answer 13

Facilitates swallowing

Might improve digestive
efficiency in G.I. Tract

Question 14

Does poo mastication cause malnutrition

Answer 14

Deteriorated masticatory performance can result in dietary restrictions

There is no clear evidence that poor mastication causes malnutrition in people
with G.I. tract disorders especially with modern foods and methods of preparation

Question 15

What is the minimum amount of teeth for acceptable mastication, aesthetics and maintenance of OH

Answer 15

20 teeth

Question 16

What is the best treatment option for a patient with no posterior molars (6-8)

Answer 16

Absent molar teeth are only
replaced if their absence
gives rise to problems.

SDA provides sufficient
occlusal stability.

SDA provides satisfactory
comfort and appearance.

chewing and comfort were
not significantly enhanced
by the provision of RPDs.

Question 17

How can bite force be increased

Answer 17

Bite forces can be increased by supporting dentures on teeth or implants

Question 18

What is a Cantilever Bridge

Answer 18

• A pontic connected to a
  retainer at one end only
• Is used to replace single
  teeth and only one
  retainer is used to support
  the bridge.
• Not recommended when
  occlusal forces on the
  pontic will be heavy

Question 19

When is an adhesive bridge used

Answer 19

An immediate, temporary adhesive bridge is appropriate, followed by a permanent bridge once the tissues have settled.

Quick, non-destructive
(conservative of tooth
tissues), aesthetic, and
durable (good life span)

Question 20

What are the stages of swallowing

Answer 20

Buccal phase (voluntary)
Pharyngeal stage (involuntary)
Esophageal stage (involuntary)

Question 21

What is the purpose of swallowing

Answer 21

• Process by which the accumulated food bolus is transported through the lower
  pharynx and oesophagus to the stomach (feeding function)
• Prevents ingested material from entering the lower airway (protective function)

Question 22

How is the airway protected during swallowing

Answer 22

• Upward and forward movement of larynx
• Closure of laryngeal inlet– aryepiglottic muscles– epiglottis
• Adduction of vocal folds
• Stop breathing (apnoea)

Question 23

How is reflux prevented

Answer 23

• Elevation of soft palate
• Tongue (sides) contacts pillars of fauces
• Tongue (dorsum) contacts posterior pharyngeal wall
• Upper oesophageal sphincter– Reflux from oesophagus into pharynx
• Lower oesophageal sphincter– Reflux from stomach into oesophagus

Question 24

What mostly causes palatal surface erosion

Answer 24

Stomach acid

Question 25

What is dysphasia

Answer 25

A specific language disorder that affects a
person’s ability to understand and
produce language

Question 26

What is Dysphagia

Answer 26

Difficulty or inability to swallow

Question 27

What is Odynophagia

Answer 27

Extreme pain when swallowing

Question 28

What is dysarthria and what causes it

Answer 28

difficulty speaking that is caused by
problems with the muscles used in
speech
.– due to neuro-muscular defects
– lesions in descending neural
pathways, cranial nerves, vocal
muscles, neuromuscular junctions

Question 29

What oral cavity causes of language and speech defects are there

Answer 29

• Malocclusions
• Loss of teeth and denture related
• Cleft lip/palate
• Tongue - related
• Dry mouth

Question 30

What can be used to fill a cleft palate

Answer 30

Obturator

Question 31

How can xerostomia impeed speech

Answer 31

With inadequate saliva production, pronouncing words becomes difficult.
People who have dry mouth and difficulty speaking cannot simply ‘swallow’ and start
talking normally.

Question 32

How can dentures impeed speech or swallowing

Answer 32

• Problems arise mainly from
  restricted tongue space
• denture base plate is too thick
• artificial teeth not set properly

Question 33

Which sounds are altered with the loss of maxillary anterior teeth

Answer 33

‘F’ and ‘V’ which are made by the lower lip contacting the edges of maxillary incisors

Question 34

How is the tone of the lips and cheeks assessed with dentures

Answer 34

Asking fundamental questions (eg address, family details).

This will indicate the functional relationship of the lips and tongue to dentures in speech.