Abstract
Aim :
This study was conducted to evaluate the speech disorders that could be reported after insertion of removable anterior expansion screw appliances used for correction of anterior dental crossbite.
Materials and Methods:
Fifty children with mean age (9.36±0.99 years) and diagnosed to have anterior dental crossbite. The anterior crossbite was planned to be corrected with removable anterior screw and posterior bite plane. Speech evaluation (including: articulation test and speech intelligibility test) was performed ; before appliance insertion , immediately after appliance insertion , one weeh after appliance insertion and finally after one month from appliance insertion .
Results :
Before appliance insertion, all sounds were intact for the majority of the cases 42(84%). Immediately after insertion, all the cases had difficulty in producing /s/, /s. /, /z/ sounds (100%). After one week of insertion, majority of the cases 30(60%) still had difficulty in producing the same sounds. While, After one month of insertion, most of the cases 40(80%) had no problem in producing different sounds .
Conclusion :
The speech performance while using removable anterior expansion screw for was worst immediately after placement of the appliance and 1 week respectively and improved after one month of appliance insertion.