The purpose of this study was to analyze the tongue function in children with open bite using pressure transducers and ultrasonography.
Ten children with normal occlusion (the normal occlusion group) and 10children with open bite (the open bite group) were examined. Three pressure transducers were attached to the labial and lingual sides of the upper central incisor and central palatal area. A probe consisting of an ultrasonic apparatus was placed under the submandible to monitor the sagittal configuration of the tongue.
The following results were obtained:
1. Time courses of pressure change during swallowing of saliva on command and sipping of 5 ml of juice were classified into 7 types.
2. During swallowing of saliva on command and sipping of 5 ml of juice, the sequence of the peak positive pressure was the labial and lingual sides of the upper incisor and the central palatal area. This pressure process as time went on was needed for swallowing. However, the characteristic order was observed in the open bite group, i. e., the labial side, palatal area and lingual side.
3. During swallowing of saliva on command, there was no difference in time of pressure between the two groups, but protrusion of the tongue was observed in the open bite group. Also, during sipping of 5 ml of juice, transient large negative pressure occured in the central palatal area in the open bite group.
4. During drinking of 50 ml of juice, the positive pressure mainly occured in the central palatal area in the normal occlusion group. On the other hand, the negative pressure occured in the same area in the open bite group.
5. During eating of jelly, negative pressure occured in the central palatal area in the two groups of children.
6. In the central palatal area of the children with normal occlusion, the positive pressure occured during swallowing of juice, and the negative pressure during swallowing of jelly. Still, whether the swallowed material was juice or jelly, only the negative pressure occured during swallowing in the open bite group.
7. A real-time ultrasonic diagnosis revealed that the tongue in the rest position was highly situated in contact with the hard palate in the normal occlusion group. The tongue position was lower and the tongue moved slowly in the open bite group.
8. Simultaneous recordings of oral pressure and tongue movement were useful for the analysis of the tongue function.
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