The first step is to screen for central nervous system dysplasia and mental retardation, hearing impairment, and psychosomatic problems. This requires a visit to the relevant specialist for some tests. Although it is a bit troublesome, it is still worth doing. Next, we will discuss the main types of diseases affecting articulation in the field of dentistry one by one. 1. Developmental defects of the phonatory organs. Developmental defects of the phonatory organs are relatively easy to diagnose, and parents are often able to know them at the first moment of their child’s birth. These developmental defects are most common with congenital cleft lip and palate. Congenital cleft lip and palate are divided into several categories depending on the location and severity of the cleft, such as incomplete cleft lip and palate (including cleft palate, i.e., cleft uvula), complete cleft lip and palate; unilateral cleft lip and palate, bilateral cleft lip and palate, etc. The main method of treatment is surgery. The purpose of surgery is twofold: one is to close the cleft gap and the other is to create conditions for restoring palatopharyngeal closure. A successful cleft lip and palate surgery closes the cleft (except for the dental part), but does not necessarily restore palatopharyngeal closure directly, similar to children with congenital palatopharyngeal closure insufficiency. Children without restored palatopharyngeal closure may have to undergo pharyngoplasty, a procedure to reduce the pharyngeal cavity. 2. Congenital palatopharyngeal closure insufficiency. In children with cleft lip and palate, surgery is required to restore the function of palatopharyngeal closure. The same is true for children with congenital palatopharyngeal closure insufficiency. So, what is palatopharyngeal closure? Why is it so important? Let’s start by understanding the role of the soft palate: our palate is divided into two parts: the first half is hard and is called the hard palate; the second half is soft and is called the soft palate. Inside the soft palate are muscles that allow movement. When it moves downward, it allows the air inhaled by the nose to enter the lungs through the throat; when it moves upward, it blocks the back of the nasal cavity together with the muscles of the pharynx, so that the air exhaled from the lungs can only go out through the mouth. In this way, when we speak, there is a strong enough airflow to form speech. The function of the soft palate that separates the nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal cavities is called palatopharyngeal closure. Therefore, without normal palatopharyngeal closure, there is no normal speech. There are many ways for doctors to check a child’s palatopharyngeal closure function, the more common ones are doctors listening by ear, X-ray lateral palatopharyngeal film, fiberoptic nasopharyngoscopy, computerized speech spectrum analysis, nasophonometer and so on. Sometimes one or two of these tests can be used to determine a child’s palatopharyngeal closure function, but sometimes several more tests are needed to determine this. Children who are unable to complete palatopharyngeal closure may require pharyngoplasty as mentioned above. However, some children may be able to obtain palatopharyngeal closure by non-surgical means. Children who achieve palatopharyngeal closure do not necessarily have normal articulation, similar to children with congenital dysarthria. They all have to undergo phonetic correction. 3. Congenital dysarthria. Most children with congenital dysarthria do not have physical or organic problems, but they still do not speak clearly. The reason for this may be related to the lack of education related to speech development. The doctor’s examination is based on ear hearing and speech spectrum analysis. Treatment relies on phonological correction. In conclusion, a significant proportion of children with dysarthria will eventually require phonological correction.