Application of a nasal speaking valve in a patient with a digitally fabricated obturator provided after a maxillectomy: A clinical report on hypernasality management

Nosizana Mohd Salleh; Mai Murase; Keita Masaki; Yuichi Yamatani; Hiroko Tani; Mihoko Haraguchi; Mariko Hattori; Noriyuki Wakabayashi

doi:10.1016/j.prosdent.2026.03.028

Application of a nasal speaking valve in a patient with a digitally fabricated obturator provided after a maxillectomy: A clinical report on hypernasality management

J Prosthet Dent. 2026 Apr 21:S0022-3913(26)00226-X. doi: 10.1016/j.prosdent.2026.03.028. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Nosizana Mohd Salleh¹, Mai Murase², Keita Masaki³, Yuichi Yamatani⁴, Hiroko Tani⁵, Mihoko Haraguchi⁶, Mariko Hattori⁷, Noriyuki Wakabayashi⁸

Affiliations

¹ Associate Professor, Department of Restorative Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; and Clinical Fellow, Department of Advanced Prosthodontics, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Institute of Science Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
² Junior Associate Professor, Department of Advanced Prosthodontics, Graduated School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Institute of Science Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan. Electronic address: maiiam.mfp@tmd.ac.jp.
³ Speech-Language-Hearing Therapist, Speech Clinic, Institute of Science Tokyo Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
⁴ Dental Technician, Dental Laboratory, Institute of Science Tokyo Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
⁵ Clinical Fellow, Department of Advanced Prosthodontics, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Institute of Science Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
⁶ Project Assistant Professor, Department of Advanced Prosthodontics, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Institute of Science Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
⁷ Junior Associate Professor, Department of Advanced Prosthodontics, Graduated School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Institute of Science Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
⁸ Professor, Department of Advanced Prosthodontics, Graduated School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Institute of Science Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.

PMID: 42020224
DOI: 10.1016/j.prosdent.2026.03.028

Abstract

A patient with a maxillectomy and persistent hypernasality despite wearing a digitally fabricated obturator and receiving speech therapy was treated with a nasal speaking valve (NSV) adjunct. Using speech intelligibility tests, the Kumakura Speech Handicap Index-7, nasalance scores, and the blowing test, speech outcomes were assessed under 3 conditions: without a prosthesis, with digitally fabricated obturator alone, and with the combined use of an obturator and NSV. The combined use of the obturator and NSV improved speech intelligibility and reduced hypernasality, suggesting clinical benefit for this adjunct in rehabilitation.