Objectives: The aim of this study was to clarify whether or not the palatal area covered by palatal plates and other related factors has influence on the swallowing time.

Methods: Twenty-one normal dentulous subjects were asked to swallow 5 ml of a drinking jelly under two conditions: palatal mucosa completely covered using an experimental palatal plate and uncovered. The swallowing time was recorded for each subject at both conditions. Differences obtained were compared by using the Student's t-test (p<0.05). The swallowing time was measured by means of a Gnasohexagraph.

Moreover, 9 factors which as been regarded as to influence the swallowing time were investigated in each subject: palatal depth, posterior coronal arch length, posterior coronal arch width, palate surface area, palatal capacity, maximum voluntary tongue pressure when palate was uncovered, maximum voluntary tongue pressure when palate was covered, tongue pressure during swallowing when palate was uncovered, tongue pressure during swallowing when palate was covered. Subjects were divided into two groups: a group, which showed changes on the swallowing time when the palate was covered and a group which did not. The above mentioned factors were investigated in each group and the differences were compared by using the Student's t-test (p<0.05).

Results: Ten subjects exhibited changes on their swallowing time when the palate was covered and 11 subjects did not. Regarding the other factors investigated, the group with changes on the swallowing time when the palate was covered showed a tongue pressure during swallowing when the palate was uncovered lower than the one showed by the group with no changes.

Conclusion: When the hard palate was covered by a palatal plate, some subjects exhibited changes on their swallowing time while others did not. The tongue pressure during swallowing was considered a factor which exerts some influence on the swallowing time.

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