I have been slow at responding to Janet's question on "bubble palate" because
I had to correspond with her about her definition of the term.  The question
fascinates me because I am not sure I have seen a "bubble palate".  I have
seen a lot of high palates and palatal tori (next course) though.

To show you the significance of a high palate, do this:  Form a triangle
using both hands - point the fingers up to form the sides of the triangle,
and join the 2 thumbs together to form the base of the triangle.  You have
just made the shape of your nose.  The volume inside the triangle is very
important because the larger the space - the easier the flow of air through
the nose.  Now visualize your upper back teeth on the thumb joints next to
your hands.  The top side of your thumbs represents the floor of the nasal
cavity - the bottom side of your thumbs represent the hard palate.  To see
what happens when you have a high palate - slowly raise your thumbs up to
make that high palate.  Does the volume inside the "nose" decrease?  Add a
nasal septum and turbinates and you can see how things can get very crowded
in that a space.  As you raise your thumbs higher - what happen to the teeth
on your thumb joints - do they move inward?  What you have just done is cause
a restriction of airflow through the nasal cavity and have caused a
mal-occlusion by moving the teeth inward and narrowing the upper arch.  Janet
shared that her husband has a chronically stuffy nose and a very high palate
- can you see now why he does?  I just made a slide for my presentation a
couple of weeks ago to demonstrate this very thing.

Dental and medical problem can develop from a high palate even if speech is
not affected.  Janet - anything that can be done to get the palate to a
"normal" shape should be tried.   I would be very interested in knowing more
about the treatments the therapist uses to get from a high palate to a normal
palate on an infant.  If this can be done easily this could be a significant
treatment modality break-through.

The palate is soft and very malleable (moldable) in new born - and normally
the action of the tongue during breastfeeding will mold the palate correctly.
 BUT - insert a harder latex/silicone artificial nipple and the palate NEVER
has a chance to remold into a normal size palate.

I would VERY MUCH like to hear more about the size and shape of palates in
infants at birth from all of you.  I am also interested in knowing more about
tongue sizes in a new born also.  The reason for different tongue sizes -
other than genetics - is the only thing in the mouth that I have not been
able to figure out.

Tongue thrusts on adults can be seen by parting the lips slightly and having
the person swallow.  If the tongue comes out through "spaces" between any of
the teeth - or if salivate oozes out between the teeth - either front or back
- he/she has a tongue thrust swallow.  Severe thruster have strong activity
in their chin muscle and sometimes involves the muscle around the mouth.
 Nearly all thrusters have a form of mal-occlusion or damage to their teeth.
 I will cover this more during my presentation.

Test question - if you understand the above - and have read the
bibliographies on bed wetting that I have posted - can you see the possible
correlation between bed wetting and high palate problems?  More research
needed here.

Brian Palmer DDS, ILCA member and former Physical Education teacher - and
husband to Shirley who is starting to beat me at golf because I am spending
so much time on this computer!  See you in KC!