Usual tongue and lips position in anteroposterior and vertical growth patterns

PURPOSE:

to study the usual tongue and lips position in anteroposterior and vertical growth patterns in children with mixed dentition.

METHODS:

the sample comprised 54 children, aged seven to 11 years old. The selected children were referred for radiographic evaluation and cephalometric analysis, which made it possible to obtain the SNA, SNB and AND angles (anteroposterior growth pattern) and the classification of the facial type: brachyfacial, mesofacial and dilocofacial (vertical growth pattern). The tongue and lips position was determined from the observation of cephalometric radiographs made by two speech therapists experienced in orofacial motricity. The usual tongue position was classified as in the papilla, high dorsum or on the floor of the mouth, and the usual lips position, as closed or half-open/open. In order to verify the relationship between the usual tongue and lips position with anteroposterior and vertical growth patterns, statistical tests like Analysis of variance, Student's t test, Mann-Whitney U and chi-square test at a significance level of 5% was used.

RESULTS:

a statistically significant relationship between the tongue position and the SNB angle was identified, children with tongue position on the floor of the mouth showed significantly lower SNB angle than children with tongue position in the papilla. SNB angle was a statistically significant lower in children with open or half open lips than children with closed lips. There was no difference between the normal position of the tongue and lips in other growth patterns anteroposterior and vertical growth.

CONCLUSION:

The usual position of lips and tongue were related to mandibular growth pattern and hasn't been influenced by facial type.

Radiography; Dental; Evaluation; Tongue; Lip; Face