Phonetic considerations in restorative dentistry
The use of phonetics is one of several guides that can be used by the restorative dentist during the assessment and restoration of structurally compromised teeth. To accomplish this, an understanding of the basic mechanisms involved in producing sounds during speech can facilitate the application of these techniques during patient management. This review discusses the basic principles of speech sounds production. This is followed by a discussion of the clinical applications of the different phonetic tests in the assessment and management of dentate and partially dentate patients with structurally compromised dentitions. CPD/Clinical Relevance: Phonetic tests are among the many guides used in the assessment and management of dentate patients with structurally compromised dentitions. The clinician should be familiar with the basic principles and applications of these tests to be able to assess and manage patients in daily practice.