Differences in the factors associated with tongue pressure between children with class I and Class II malocclusions

Abstract

Background The relationship between tongue pressure and masticatory performance during the mixed dentition period in cases of Class II malocclusion has not been clarified. The aim of this study was to determine differences in tongue pressure-related factors, including maxillofacial morphology and masticatory performance, between Class I and Class II malocclusions during the mixed dentition period. Methods A total of 56 children with Class I malocclusion (12 boys, 16 girls) or Class II malocclusion (16 boys, 12 girls) with mixed dentition were included in the present study. Height, body weight, hand grip strength, maximum occlusal force, maximum tongue pressure, masticatory performance, and the number of decayed, missing, and filled teeth were measured in all participants. Their lateral cephalograms were also evaluated. The means of all measurements were compared between Class I and Class II malocclusions. Pearson’s correlation coefficients were used to determine associations between maximum tongue pressure and other variables for each type of malocclusion. Results The maximum tongue pressure, hand grip strength, and maximum occlusal force in the Class II malocclusion group were significantly lower than those in the Class I malocclusion group (all, p < 0.05). The maximum tongue pressure was significantly positively correlated with hand grip strength, maximum occlusal force, masticatory performance, and SNB (sella, nasion, B point) angle in the Class I group (all, p < 0.05), and with height, body weight, and labial inclination of the central incisors in the Class II group (all, p < 0.05). Conclusions The maxillofacial morphometric factors associated with tongue pressure were clearly different between cases of Class I and Class II malocclusion with mixed dentition. Masticatory performance and tongue pressure were significantly positively correlated in cases of Class I malocclusion, but not in cases of Class II malocclusion.

Evaluation of the maximum tongue and lip pressure in individuals with Class I, II, or III Angle malocclusions and different facial types

“…Partal and Aksu (12) measured tongue and lip pressure of children with Class II dental malocclusion and did not find a difference between them and those with Class I dental malocclusion. On the other side, other authors (13,15) found an association between tongue pressure and maxillofacial morphology in children and suggest a relationship between tongue position and its force.…”

“…Researches were carried out to establish normative values for orofacial strength and endurance and to investigate the possibility of influences of age (4) , sex (6) , and clinical conditions such as mouth-breathing (7) , obstructive sleep apnea (8) , and temporomandibular disorders (9) . However, few studies have been conducted on the influence of malocclusion on the force or pressure exerted by the tongue and lips (10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16) .…”

“…Because there are few studies associating orofacial pressures and maxillofacial morphology (11,(13)(14)(15) , and even fewer associating those pressures with non-skeletal malocclusion (10,12,16) , these relationships remain unclear. In addition, less attention has been paid to the relationship between tongue endurance and malocclusion, as just one study on this topic was found (14) .…”