The cleft palate patient: a challenge for prosthetic rehabilitation--clinical report.

Although cleft palate patients are not regularly seen in general dental practice, their number is not negligible. Prosthodontic treatment of such patients requires good planning that takes into account all remaining teeth and roots, deformation of maxillary segments, residual palatal defects, and the disproportion between the maxillary and mandibular alveolar ridge. With the aim to provide satisfactory function and esthetics and alleviation of the deformities, the authors describe prosthetic therapy of a cleft palate patient using root copings, attachments, telescope and cone crowns, and a metal-base partial prosthesis. The patient's mastication, phonation, and esthetics were improved. Successful results can be best achieved through the judicious use of appropriate treatment modalities tempered by clinical experience and creativity.