Preliminary Study On Craniofacial Morphology And Tongue Posture Of Children With Class â…¢ Malocclusion Combined By Tongue Myofunctional Exercises

Objective:To study the feasibility of the method that the barium sulfate paste was used to display the position of the tongue combined the cephalometric radiographs. Also, we used the method to research the changes of craniofacial morphology and tongue position of children with Angle Class III malocclusion after the tongue myofunctional exercises.Materials and Methods:Twenty children diagnosed with class III malocclusion and twenty children with normal occlusion were coated by the barium sulfate paste in the center of the tongue surface, then they were taken cephalometric radiographs on natural head position at rest. Cephalometric measurement of the 20 children with class III malocclusion were compared with the 20 children with normal occlusion by independent sample t test and the differences were found between the two groups. The cephalometric radiographs of the 20 children with class III malocclusion were measured again by the same doctor after a week interval and the measurements of the two times were compared by the paired sample t test. The 20 children with normal occlusion were taken cephalometric radiographs again by the same doctor and the data of the two times were compared by the paired sample t test. Afterwards the children with class III malocclusion did the tongue myofunctional exercises for 0.91 to 1.08 years(1.01±0.02 years). These children were coated by the barium sulfate paste in the center of the tongue surface, then they were taken cephalometric radiographs on natural head position at rest. The two groups were compared by the paired sample test.Results:①There were no differences between the two groups that the 20 children with normal occlusion were taken cephalometric radiographs two times by the same doctor.②There were no differences between the two groups that the cephalometric radiographs of the 20 children with class III malocclusion were measured again by the same doctor.③Significant differences were seen between the children with class III malocclusion and the children with normal occlusion. The angle of SNB, the facial angle, and the length of the S-Ti and S-Tu were enlarged(P<0.05). The angle of the ANB, the angle of NSTu and the convexity were significantly decreased(P<0.001). The Y axis angle, the length of S-Go, and the angle of NSTi were decreased(P<0.05).④After tongue myofunctional exercises for 1.01±0.02 years, the angle of the mandible plane and the length of inferior face were decreased(P<0.05). The length of S-Tu and S-Ti were significantly decreased(P<0.001). The length of S-Go was enlarged(P<0.05). The angle of NSTu and NSTi were significantly enlarged(P<0.001).Conclusions:①The method that the barium sulfate paste was used to display the position of the tongue combined the cephalometric radiographs is simple and reliable.②Compared with the children with normal occlusion, there have been obvious mandibular protrusion and a lower tongue posture in children with classⅢmalocclusion. After almost one year of myofunctional exercises, the changes of craniofacial morphology and tongue posture are obvious. The mandible occurred counterclockwise rotation. The dorsum of tongue was lifted and the tip of tongue was receded. The low tongue position is further confirmed one of the etiologies of the ClassⅢmalocclusion. The tongue myofunctional exercises can significantly change the abnormal tongue position and it can improve the symptoms of ClassⅢ.