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Objectives: To evaluate the relationship between dental malocclusion and speech to understand the etiology of speech sound disorders (SSD) in schoolchildren and to make a correct diagnosis and treatment plan., Materials and Methods: Articulation and dental occlusion, oromyofunctional evaluation with orofacial praxis and musculature, resting tongue position, and swallowing pattern were analyzed in 290 schoolchildren between the ages of 4 and 7 years. Statistical tests were considered significant for P < .05., Results: A significant association between dental malocclusions (Angle Class II and III, anterior open bite, edge-to-edge bite, overjet and anterior crossbite) and phonetic alterations (P = .008) was observed. Sigmatisms and rhotacisms were the most frequent disorders. Malocclusions also showed a significant association with oral habits and with orofacial praxis and muscle activity., Conclusions: The presence of malocclusion can cause imbalances in the functions involved in the stomatognathic system. Awareness of this relationship in young children would help professionals to implement preventive measures for the optimum development of children's oral health., (© 2022 by The EH Angle Education and Research Foundation, Inc.)

Background Tongue posture plays an important role in the etiology of anterior open bite (AOB) and articulation disorders, and is crucial for AOB treatment planning and posttreatment stability. Clinical assessment of tongue posture in children is unreliable due to anatomical limitations. The aim of the study was to present functional diagnostics using three-dimensional ultrasound (3DUS) assessment of resting tongue posture in comparison to clinical assessment, and the associations between the improper tongue posture, otorhinolaryngological characteristics, and articulation disorders in preschool children with AOB. Patients and methods A cross-sectional study included 446 children, aged 3-7 years, 236 boys and 210 girls, examined by an orthodontist to detect the prevalence of AOB. The AOB was present in 32 children. The control group consisted of 43 children randomly selected from the participants with normocclusion. An orthodontist, an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist and a speech therapist assessed orofacial and ENT conditions, oral habits, and articulation disorders in the AOB group and control group. Tongue posture was also assessed by an experienced radiologist, using 3DUS. The 3DUS assessment of tongue posture was compared to the clinical assessment of orthodontist and ENT specialist. Results The prevalence of AOB was 7.2%. The AOB group and the control group significantly differed regarding improper tongue posture (p < 0.001), and articulation disorders (p < 0.001). In children without articulation disorders from both groups, the improper tongue posture occured less frequently than in children with articulation disorders (p < 0.001). After age adjustment, a statistical regression model showed that the children with the improper tongue posture had higher odds ratios for the presence of AOB (OR 14.63; p < 0.001) than the others. When articulation disorders were included in the model, these odds ratios for the AOB became insignificant (p = 0.177). There was a strong association between the improper tongue posture and articulation disorders (p = 0.002). The 3DUS detected the highest number of children with improper resting tongue posture, though there was no significant difference between the 3DUS and clinical assessments done by orthodontist and ENT specialist. Conclusions The 3DUS has proved to be an objective, non-invasive, radiation free method for the assessment of tongue posture and could become an important tool in functional diagnostics and early rehabilitation in preschool children with speech irregularities and irregular tongue posture and malocclusion in order to enable optimal conditions for articulation development.

Background: Masticatory system and speech sound disorders concur, have the same causes and similar consequences - both increase the risk of dental and periodontal diseases., Objectives: The study was conducted to establish the correlation between functional disorders of the masticatory system and speech sound disorders., Material and Methods: Three hundred patients aged 7-10 years were examined to detect functional disorders of the masticatory system and speech sound disorders. Functional disorders were assessed in patients with and without speech sound disorders., Results: According to the study results, functional disorders of the masticatory system concur more often with speech sound disorders than with correct articulation and lead to speech sound disorders. There is a strong correlation between: - any dysfunction and errors in the /p/, /b/, /m/, /s/, /z/, /t͡ s/, /d͡ z/, /ɕ/, /ʑ/, /t͡ ɕ/, and /d͡ ʑ/ sounds, - mouth breathing and errors in the /p/, /b/, /m/, /s/, /z/, /t͡ s/, /d͡ z/, /ɕ/, /ʑ/, /t͡ ɕ/, and /d͡ ʑ/ sounds, - persistent tongue thrust and errors in the /s/, /z/, /t͡ s/, /d͡ z/, /ʂ/, /ʐ/, /t͡ ʂ/, /d͡ ʐ/, /ɕ/, /ʑ/, /t͡ ɕ/, and /d͡ ʑ/ sounds, and - parafunctional sucking and errors in the /s/, /z/, /t͡ s/, /d͡ z/, /ʂ/, /ʐ/, /t͡ ʂ/, /d͡ ʐ/, /ɕ/, /ʑ/, /t͡ ɕ/, and /d͡ ʑ/ sounds., Conclusions: To implement effective and early prevention and treatment, it is crucial to know the correlation between the masticatory system and speech sound disorders, as it reduces treatment duration and minimizes relapses of not only communication disorders, but also of concurrent masticatory system disorders.

This clinical report describes prosthodontic therapy with an implant-supported partial fixed dental prosthesis for a patient with Down syndrome and concomitant oral habits, including tongue thrusting and thumb sucking., (Copyright © 2016 Editorial Council for the Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

As most of the etiologic factors of malocclusion are of genetic origin and thus cannot be prevented, environmental causative factors have become the focus for correction. Early interception of oral habits may be an important step in order to prevent occlusal disturbances in children. The identification of an abnormal habit and the assessment of its potential immediate and long-term effects on the dentition and potentially on the craniofacial complex should be made at an early stage. This paper focuses on the most common oral habits influencing dentofacial growth in childhood and management of these habits in the developing dentition.

In addition to sucking habits, a range of other habits have been associated with short- and long-term dental and orthodontic problems. These habits include tongue thrusting and atypical swallowing, lip sucking, oral self-mutilation, mouth breathing, and bruxism. Although the association between form and function continues to be controversial, if habits are of sufficient duration they may lead to dental malocclusion and impede successful management. Oral self-injury and bruxism can lead to significant problems, such as soft tissue trauma and infection. Accurate history taking and examination are essential steps in formulating a diagnosis and management plan. Although a range of treatment options are often available, clear guidelines for treatment are difficult to develop due to a lack of high quality clinical trials. Optimal management is likely to be dictated by patient and severity variability. The purpose of this paper is to review and discuss the management of tongue thrust and atypical swallowing, lip sucking, oral self-mutilation, mouth breathing and bruxism.

During orthodontic-surgical treatment, orthodontics must facilitate the surgery, and vice-versa. More specifically, surgical adjustment of the transverse dimension of the maxilla and its vertical and/or anteroposterior repositioning require orthodontic support. In addition to the orthodontic appliance, a palatal device is needed to guide and maintain the correction. In the lingual technique, this situation might appear to be difficult to manage since both the appliance and the auxiliaries are located on the same side. We demonstrate a removable tooth-supported expander as well as the use of dua-insertion palatal bands to solve a transverse maxillary deficit less than or equal to 5mm., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Maxillary midline diastema is a common aesthetic complaint of patients. Treating the midline diastema is a matter of concern for practitioners, as many different aetiologies are reported to be associated with it. The appearance of midline diastema as part of the normal dental development makes it difficult for practitioners to decide whether to intervene or not at an early stage. The aim of this article is to review the possible aetiology and management options which will help the clinician to diagnose, intercept and to take effective action to correct the midline diastema. The available data shows that an early intervention is desirable in cases with large diastemas. Treatment modality, timing and retention protocol depends on the aetiology of the diastema. Therefore, priority needs to be given to diagnosing the aetiology before making any treatment decisions. Clinical Relevance: This article aims to determine and evaluate the aetiology and possible treatment options of midline diastema.

Aim: Atypical swallowing is a myofunctional problem consisting of an altered tongue position during the act of swallowing. High incidence in population, multifactorial etiology and the recurring connection with the presence of malocclusions made it a topic of strong interest and discussion in science. The purpose of this review is to illustrate the current orientation on the topic of atypical swallowing, trying in particular to answer two questions: 1) what kind of connection is there between atypical swallowing and malocclusion; 2) what kind of therapy should be used to solve it., Methods: This review was conducted on the Medline database [www.ncbi.nim.nih.gov/pubmed] searching for the keywords "atypical swallowing" and "tongue thrust". We examined all the documents from the year 1990 onwards, excluding the ones about syndromic cases of the central motor system., Results: The causal relation between the two problems seems to be biunique: some authors affirm that this oral habit starts as a compensation mechanism for a preexisting malocclusion (especially in case of open-bite); other texts show that it has a tendency to exacerbate cases of malocclusion; it is also proven that a non-physiological tongue thrust can negatively influence the progress of an ongoing orthodontic therapy. Thereby, the best therapeutic approach seems to be a multidisciplinary one: beside orthodontics, which is necessary to correct the malocclusion, it is essential to set up a myofunctional rehabilitation procedure to correct the oral habit, therefore granting long time permanent results. There is also proof of a substantial difference between the results obtained from early (deciduous or primary mixed dentition) or later treatments., Conclusion: The biunique causal relation between atypical swallowing and malocclusion suggests a multidisciplinary therapeutic approach, orthodontic and myofunctional, to temporarily solve both problems. An early diagnosis and a prompt intervention have a significantly positive influence on the therapy outcome.

Riga-Fede disease results when an infant's instinctive tongue thrusting and raking motion over recently erupted primary mandibular incisors causes a traumatic ulceration of the tongue and/or mouth floor. The symptoms and therapeutic approach to the condition are highlighted in this case report.

Aim: Anterior open bite (AOB) is an occlusal anomaly commonly associated with oral habits (OH). The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of OH as a risk factor for the AOB., Materials and Methods: A group of children aged between 3 and 12 years were observed. The statistical methodology included independent chi-square test, Fisher's exact test and binary logistic regression., Results: The frequency of oral habits was of 43.5% in the deciduous dentition and 54.2% in the mixed dentition. There was a statistically significant association of pacifier sucking: 61.7 and 16.1 odd ratios (OR), and tongue thrust: 3.9 and 9.2 OR with AOB in both groups, respectively. Thumb sucking occurred only in the deciduous dentition with 5.6 OR., Conclusion: OH and AOB have a high frequency in children. They hinder the normal development of dental and skeletal structures. As OH are risk factors for AOB, the damaging habits most frequently associated are: pacifier sucking, thumb sucking, and tongue thrust. Due to the correlation between the prevalence of AOB and OH, prevention strategies incorporating psychological data related to children should be integrated into a national public health programme.

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of oral habits in an Albanian population of schoolchildren., Study Design: A sample of 2617 subjects, aged 7-15, was examined by clinical observation without radiograms. The sample comprised 1257 males and 1360 females, with no history of orthodontic treatment. Aestethical frontal and profile analysis, intraoral and functional analysis were performed., Statistics: Gender and age differences were compared by chi-square test. The relationship between malocclusions and oral habits was assessed by t-test and the level of significance was assessed at 0.01., Results: The findings indicated that oral habits were present in 2225 subjects (85.0%), 1103 males (87.7%) and 1121 females (82.4%); the most frequent oral habit was pacifier sucking (30%) and it was mostly present in the 7-11 years group. It was observed a significant correlation between oral habits and dental malocclusions, open bite, altered overjet and maxillary contraction. CONCLUSION The high number of oral habits observed in the studied sample suggest that prevention strategies adopted in other countries could be successfully integrated in the development of an effective national programme in Albania aimed at reducing malocclusion risk factors.

The purpose of this study was to determine if electropalatography (EPG) would be a useful adjunct and feasible option for those conducting clinical assessments of individuals with suspected nonspeech orofacial myofunctional disorders (NSOMD). Three females (two adults, one child) were referred by their orthodontist for assessment of suspected NSOMD. Three adults and one child without NSOMD were recruited for the purpose of evaluating methodological construct, and to provide comparisons for participants with NSOMD. Using EPG, lingual-palatal timing and contact patterns of 105 saliva swallows (45 with NSOMD, 60 without NSOMD) were analyzed by compartmentalizing the sensor display and tracking the order and duration of activation. Lingual-palatal contact patterns were compared in terms of four stages: prepropulsion, propulsion, postpropulsion, release. Coding the lingual-palatal activation in an operationalized manner was a valuable adjunct for describing lingual-palatal timing and contact patterns. Participants with NSOMD showed unique lingual-palatal contact patterns that differed from the patterns of the participants without NSOMD, and from each other. EPG is a potential adjunct to the non-instrumental assessment of NSOMD. Larger scale investigations using EPG should proceed.

Introduction: In nongrowing patients with skeletal Class II malocclusion, premolar extraction or maxillary distalization can be used as camouflage treatment. Zygomatic anchorage enables distalization in uncooperative or noncompliant patients. We describe 1 such procedure in a 24-year-old woman., Methods: We used novel improved superelastic nickel-titanium archwires combined with nickel-titanium open-coil springs to provide a constant and continuous low force to the dentition., Results: We were able to successfully eliminate the protrusive profile and correct the Class II molar relationship using this system of zygomatic anchorage. The posterior occlusal relationships were improved to achieve Class I canine and molar relationships on both sides, and ideal overbite and overjet relationships were established. Facial esthetics was improved with decreased protrusion of the upper and lower lips., Conclusions: The method used here is a promising alternative to traditional distalization techniques and might offer an effective and simple means of distalizing maxillary molars in uncooperative patients., (Copyright © 2013 American Association of Orthodontists. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.)

An 8-mm anterior and posterior open bite caused by a tongue rest posture habit was closed in a 25-year-old man by means of mandibular soldered tongue spurs and without orthognathic surgery. All maxillary and mandibular first molars were extracted, and the spaces were closed. Inappropriate retention protocol allowed for relapse in a 6-month period. A new 1-year orthodontic retreatment was conducted; after an appropriate retention protocol, the outcomes of treatment were significantly improved., (Copyright © 2013 American Association of Orthodontists. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Pyogenic granuloma (PG) is a rare, benign, vascular, hyperplasic, soft tissue lesion caused by diverse factors, including traumatic injuries. This article presents a case involving the surgical removal of PG on the tongue of a 4-year-old boy who had difficulty with speech and eating because of the tongue lesion. The parents reported that the child had the habit of nibbling on and sucking his tongue. The lesion was excised and histopathological analysis confirmed the diagnosis of PG; however, because the child continued to nibble and suck on his tongue, the lesion recurred. A second surgery was performed with the same histopathological diagnosis. At a one-year follow-up, the child had ceased his tongue habits, and no recurrence was seen.

Introduction: Anterior open bite (AOB) is a vertical malocclusion that requires thorough diagnosis to ensure long-term stability. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of AOB in Portuguese children during deciduous and mixed dentition in order to assess the need for orthodontic treatment and to determine its relation to other associated features., Material and Methods: A group of 1264 children aged between 3 and 12 from Porto in Portugal were observed. The statistical methodology included the independent Chi(2) test, Fisher's exact test and binary logistic regression., Results: The prevalence of AOB was 16.9% with 95% CI (11.9%, 24.5%) for primary dentition and 11.3% with 95% CI (8.4%, 15.1%) for mixed dentition. Pacifier sucking, thumb sucking, tongue thrust and oral breathing are major risk factors for AOB in primary dentition, ranked in descending order. In mixed dentition, the factors are ranked as follows: pacifier sucking, lip sucking, tongue thrust and oral breathing., Conclusion: Due to the close connection between the prevalence of AOB and dysfunctional problems, prevention strategies should be integrated into a national public health program. The habits mentioned above should be eliminated early by using the appropriate protocols in order to reduce the risk factors of malocclusion., (Copyright © 2012 CEO. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

The treatment of anterior open bite often requires the use of skeletal anchorage to prevent excessive eruption of the posterior teeth and consequent downward rotation of the mandible. However, this procedure might not always be accomplished. This article reports the successful treatment of an anterior open bite and a posterior crossbite in a young boy, combining traditional techniques and involving high-pull maxillary traction to help growth to correct the skeletal Class II malocclusion without skeletal anchorage. The vertical dentoalveolar contribution of maxillary growth was also favorable to close the bite, whereas cross-elastics corrected the axial inclination of the mandibular posterior teeth, eliminating the inverted posterior crossbite. The open bite was completely closed with edgewise appliances, which also achieved normal overjet, intercuspation, and incisor exposure on smiling. Traditional mechanics for the treatment of open bite and crossbite remain a useful alternative when patients do not accept skeletal anchorage., (Copyright © 2013 American Association of Orthodontists. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Aim: Bad habits result in altered functions which with time can cause anomalies of the orofacial morphology. To solve these problems, orthodontic treatment can be supported by myofunctional therapy in order to recover the normal functionality of the oral muscles. The aim of this study is to assess the need to treat patients with neuromuscular disorders, from both the occlusion and the muscles condition approach in order to obtain the balance needed for the stability of treatment., Materials and Methods: A sample of 23 patients with atypical swallowing was included in this study, some of them presented thumb sucking and oral breathing. After case history collection, in order to make a correct orthodontic and functional diagnosis, correction of anomalies was carried out since they could compromise the success of the therapy (maxillary contraction, oral breathing, and short lingual fraenum). Then a different therapeutic approach was applied on the basis of the specific dental features., Results: Both from the diagnostic and therapeutic point of view, important results were achieved especially through muscle analysis with dynamometer and surface electromyography., Conclusion: Orthodontic therapy, in the presence of bad habits, is not enough to solve orthodontic issues, it must be combined with a myofunctional treatment. The success of the therapy is granted only when patients and their family comply with the treatment and all factors which can prevent success of the therapy are removed.

Background: Anterior open bite is said to exist when there is an actual vertical gap between the upper and lower incisors with the teeth in centric occlusion. This could occur in the anterior or posterior region, and may be attributed to the supra eruption of the posterior teeth or the infra eruption of the anterior teeth and it is common in both adults and children., Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of anterior open bite (AOB) in 2 to 5 -year -old children and the aetiological factors responsible for it., Methods: The study group comprised 1031 children (429 boys and 602 girls) between the ages of 2 to 5-years, who were examined for the presence of AOB and the relationship with various oral habits., Results: AOB was present in 29 (2.8%) of the subjects. Sucking habits were observed in 267 (25.9%) children. Only 29(10.9%) of the children with sucking habits had an AOB which was asymmetric in 20 (7.5%) and symmetric in 9 (3.4%). The asymmetric AOB was significantly higher in children with thumb sucking habits than in finger suckers (P<0.05). There was no significant difference between frequency, duration of sucking habits and AOB. The 4-year olds showed a significant difference in the number of children with AOB (P<0.05). Sucking habits of 1-2 hours and duration of 24 to 60 months exhibited the highest prevalence of an AOB in 13 (44.8%) and 17 (58.6%)children respectively., Conclusion: The prevalence of AOB in this study is 2.8%. Thumb sucking is the most important aetiological factor in the formation of an AOB in 2 to 5-year-old children.

Aim: The aim of this study is to report three cases that needed myofunctional and orthodontic treatment and the good results achieved after the therapy. Orthodontic treatment alone, in presence of bad habits, is not enough to solve the orthodontic issues, so it needs to be combined with myofunctional treatment.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the early treatment of atypical deglutition, by analysing the efficacy of the eruptive guide appliance Habit Corrector™., Materials and Methods: The pre- and post-treatment (T1 and T2) cephalometric data of 2 groups of patients (G1 and G2), both consisting of 25 patients each and treated with Habit Corrector™, were compared. The first group included 10 males and 15 females, aged between 4 and 7 years old, with average age 6.17 years, and therefore undergoing the last phase of primary dentition and the first phase of mixed dentition. The second group included 12 males and 13 females, aged between 8 and 12 years old, with average age 9.19 years old, undergoing the second phase of mixed dentition. The overall duration of the treatment was 12 months., Results: The results showed significant differences between the two groups, with respect to overbite, overjet, molar relation, inclination of the upper and lower incisors, position of the jaw. A significant variation between the two groups at T2 was registered for the maxillomandibular relationships: the increase in the growth and degree of mandibular protrusion was of 4.66° in G1 and 2.44° in G2. Significant changes were registered for the position or growth of the upper jaw; the upper facial height almost remained unaltered, with 53.34° for G1 and with 53.96° for G2. A significant variation occurred with the increase in the sagittal relationship between the molars, improved in G1 by 3.14 mm and in G2 by 2.61 mm. A significant decrease of overjet was registered in G1 by 1.94 mm and in G2 by 0.76 m and an increase of overbite in G1 by 3.14 mm and in G2 by 0.88 mm. The inclination of the maxillary and mandibular incisors improved, with an inter-incisive angle of 123° in G1 and 124.2° in G2., Conclusion: The clinical results obtained suggest that early intervention in atypical deglutition with Habit Corrector™ is able to produce significant results in primary dentition and in the first phase of mixed dentition, rather than in the late phase of mixed dentition.

Premature loss of primary teeth associated with a parafunctional habit in 30-month-old child is reported. Report details, clinically and radiographically, these effects in a very young child and reviews diagnostic possibilities. Early detection and scrutiny by the pediatric dentist is important to determine origin and to rule out periodontal disease as manifestation of underlying systemic disease.

This article addresses many myths that have persisted over the years in dentistry and orofacial myology regarding the nature of orofacial myofunctional disorders (OMD's). Myths include 1) the concept that the term "tongue thrusting" includes the rest posture; 2) that there is an excessive amount of pressure exerted against the anterior teeth in swallows, that swallowing pressures add up, and the frequency of swallowing has an impact on the dentition; 3) the idea that the tongue is the strongest muscle in the body; 4) the view that a muscle will be the winner in any tug of war between muscle and bone; 5) the claim that a tongue thrust can cause an open bite malocclusion; 6) the claim that a tongue thrust can cause a Class II malocclusion; 7) the claim that the tongue molds the palatal vault; 8) the notion that a low tongue tip posture at rest presents a problem; and 9) the claim that OMD's represent a muscle imbalance that can be brought into balance with therapy. Each of these false claims or "myths" is discussed and corrected, with the positive acknowledgement that clinicians are abandoning the incorrect notion of muscle balance and imbalance as had been claimed previously.

Aim: This study investigates the relationship between posture disorders and swallowing, either of infantile type or affected by the presence of a short lingual frenulum., Materials and Methods: The stabilometry examinations, taking into account the Romberg index and the LFS value, and when needed a frenectomy, showed positive variations in the recovery of a proper posture. The data were analysed by means of the Wilcoxon signed-rank test., Results and Conclusion: This study showed that swallowing is able to modulate postural control and it can be a determining factor in postural syndromes that, if not promptly intercepted, may evolve into full-blown and irreversible musculoskeletal disorders for which treatment often proves ineffective.

The aim of this study was to evaluate oral sensory perception in patients with an anterior open bite (AOB) and associated tongue thrusting activity. This study was performed in the Department of Orthodontics, Government Dental Hospital, Chennai, on 30 subjects (16 females and 14 males) aged from 12 to 17 years with an AOB associated with a tongue thrust and in a control group of 100 subjects (53 females and 47 males aged from 12 to 17 years) with a normal occlusion and no oral habits. Stereognosis and two-point discrimination (2PD) were employed for evaluation of oral sensory perception. Statistical comparison was undertaken using a Student's t-test. Stereognostic ability was altered in children with an AOB associated with a tongue thrust (t = 15.2, probability of occurrence P < 0.01). The mean oral stereognostic score in the control group was 31.8 and in tongue thrusters 25.3. The AOB group also showed a diminished 2PD threshold at the tip of the tongue [control group 1.08 mm, tongue thrusters with an AOB 1.64 mm (t = 7.3, P < 0.01)]. This finding highlights the fact that the tongue plays a vital role in oral sensory perception. Oral stereognostic tests and 2PD as diagnostic tools are valuable in the evaluation of oral sensory perception.

Aim: To determine the prevalence of oral habits and assess the effects of these habits on the occlusion in a group of Nigerian schoolchildren., Method: A cross-sectional study of 928 children aged 4-15 years from Eti -Osa local government area in Lagos, Nigeria. The sample population was selected from 2 private and 3 public schools., Results: Three hundred and sixteen children (34.1%) of total children examined, exhibited one form of oral habit or another. The most common habit observed was digit sucking which was observed in 17% of the children. Increased overjet was observed in 33% of the habit children. This was significantly higher than findings in children without the habit who recorded an increased overjet of 25.3%. Anterior open bite was observed in 12.5% of habit children and 3.1% of non-habit children. Statistically significant differences in the occurrence of upper incisor proclination, lower incisor retroclination and lip incompetence were also observed occurring more frequently in the oral habit group. Posterior crossbite was observed in 1.9% of the habit group and 1.5% of the non-habit group. This difference was not statistically significant., Conclusion: This study shows an increased prevalence of oral habits when compared to previous studies in this region. Increased overjet and anterior open bite were the most commonly occurring occlusal anomalies associated with oral habits. There is a need to reduce the occurrence of permanent occlusal deformation due to the persistent form of these habits through dental health education among Nigerian children.

This report describes the treatment of a case of severe open bite with posterior crossbite. While treating open bite, the outcome may not always be successful with orthodontic therapy alone. In such cases, surgical therapy is often chosen to gain a stable occlusion. Skeletal anchorage systems such as miniscrews are now frequently used for correcting severe malocclusion. In this report, we treated an open bite by intruding the molars with miniscrews placed bilaterally in the interdental space between both the upper and lower posterior teeth. The active treatment period was 36 months and the patient's teeth continued to be stable after a retention period of 36 months.

Introduction: In addition to heredity, sucking habits, impaired nasal breathing, and atypical swallowing patterns are considered important factors in the etiology of posterior crossbite. The purpose of this study was to assess irregular orofacial functions to determine their correlation with posterior crossbite., Methods: Two hundred forty-three children were examined at the ages 3, 4, and 5. Irregular orofacial functions and morphologic traits of malocclusion were clinically evaluated. The prevalence of posterior crossbite and the relationship with incorrect orofacial functions was determined. Data were analyzed by using the chi-square test and repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA)., Results: Posterior crossbite at 5 years of age was found in 20% of the children. Half of the crossbite children had dummy sucking or were bottle-fed. Bottle feeding decreased during the observation years, but atypical swallowing, thumb sucking, and mouth breathing persisted. Mouth breathing and dummy sucking behavior were found to be statistically significantly different between the crossbite and noncrossbite groups of children. Atypical swallowing patterns increased in children with crossbite and decreased in those without crossbite. The difference was statistically significantly different (repeated measures ANOVA, P = 0.038)., Conclusions: Every clinical examination of children in the deciduous dentition with sucking habits should include assessment of orofacial functions, especially the swallowing pattern, which was found to be an important factor in the etiology for posterior crossbite development.

So-called "primary" or "infantile" forms of deglutition, also termed lingual dyspraxia, are treated in different ways by orthodontists using various appliances to correct the condition and are also managed by speech-therapists and physiotherapists. The results obtained are often unstable. We have developed a more holistic approach to this disorder by attempting to grasp the underlying mechanisms in order to achieve more satisfactory correction. By establishing normal salivary deglutition more rapidly, this manual osteopathic technique complements the methods which use voluntary rehabilitation to impress upon the body's physical reflexes the "motor image" of the act to be accomplished. In order to render this article more lively and accessible, we have chosen to let the tongue speak in the first person--which, after all, is only normal!, (Copyright (c) 2009 Collège Européen d'Orthodontie. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

The aim of this report was to present a case of granulomatous lesion on the ventral surface of the tongue in a 9-month-old, healthy, infant girl, caused by the habit of scraping the tongue on mandibular central incisors. Clinical treatment consisted of manual smoothing of the sharp edges of both incisors and excision of the 2-cm pediculate ulcerative granulomatous mass localized on the ventral surface of the tongue. After 3 weeks, the child could be properly fed and a complete healing of the lesion was observed.

Sublingual traumatic ulceration is rare and a benign, ulcerative and granulomatous process that occurs as a result of repetitive trauma of the oral mucosal surfaces by the teeth. Treatment should begin conservatively and should focus on eliminating the source of the trauma. In our cases, we chose the conservative treatment by grinding the teeth and placing composite resin over the offending teeth and applied orabase. At the follow-up, we confirmed that the lesion was resolved and infant was feeding normally.

An integral part of sustaining long-term orthodontic results is a lingually bonded retainer. These retainers have been established as a standard retention protocol, as they combine efficiency and esthetics. Increasing patient demands for improved esthetics and maintenance of good health of dental and periodontal tissues have led to the development of new techniques and materials involving reinforced polyethylene fibers. In this case report, retention featuring the use of a reinforced polyethylene fiber retainer, placed labially to avoid irritating the tongue, is presented. Three-year posttreatment records indicated no relapse and that the integrity of soft and hard tissues had remained intact.

In the present context of the public health directions, considering WHO main objective, that "all people of the world could reach the highest possible health level", in medicine, the accent is put on prevention. In spite of the important progresses achieved in orthodontics field, the treatment still remains a symptomatic one. In this context, we must ask ourselves what are the prevention theoretical and practical coordinates in orthodontics, which measures are available or could be elaborated for preventing the malocclusions development. From the clinical point of view, the most important element of the new perspective is that most of the cases of anomalies which in the present are cured by orthodontics are induced by functional and environmental factors and they can theoretically be prevented. Thus, the identification, control and guidance of the environmental factors which adjust the growing of the maxillaries and of the other cranio-facial structures would be the main target of a prevention program in orthodontics.

Through a transversal epidemiological study, conducted with 333 Brazilian children, males (157) and females (176), aged 3 to 6 years old, enrolled in a public preschool, this study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of the different types of vertical interincisal trespass (VIT) and the relationship between these occlusal aspects and anterior lisping and/or anterior tongue thrust in the articulation of the lingua-alveolar phonemes /t/, /d/, /n/ and /l/. All children involved were submitted to a VIT examination and to a speech evaluation. Statistical significance was analyzed through the Qui-square test, at a significance level of 0.05 (95% confidence limit). The quantitative analysis of the data demonstrated the following prevalences: 1 - the different types of VIT: 48.3% for normal overbite (NO), 22.5% for deep overbite (DO), 9.3% for edge to edge (ETE) and 19.8% for open bite (OB); 2 - interdental lisping in relation to the different types of VIT: 42% for NO, 12.5% for DO, 12.5% for ETE, 32.9% for OB; and 3 - children with anterior tongue thrust in the articulation of lingua-alveolar phonemes in relation to the different types of VIT: 42.1% for NO, 14% for DO, 10.5% for ETE, 33.3% for OB. The results demonstrated that there was a significant relationship between open bite and anterior lisping and/or anterior tongue thrust in the articulation of the lingua-alveolar phonemes /t/, /d/, /n/ and /l/; and that there was a significant relationship between deep overbite and the absence of anterior lisping and anterior tongue thrust in the articulation of the lingua-alveolar phonemes.

Purpose: To longitudinally evaluate oral habits and their effects on the developing occlusion in Nigerian children., Materials and Methods: A longitudinal epidemiological survey of 145 3- to 5-year-old children in a pre-primary section of a primary school near the Dental Centre, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. The children at the first examination (Time 1) were screened for oral habits. They were then followed up and those located 4 years later were reassessed for oral habits (Time 2) in the primary school section of the same establishment. Only subjects who were actively engaged in non-nutritive sucking were coded positive. The occlusal features at Time 1 were recorded according to Foster and Hamilton, whereas at Time 2 the molar relationship was based on Angle's classification. Both descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation coefficient were used in the data analysis., Results: At Time 1, only 5 (3.4%) children in the original sample size were non-nutritive suckers, whereas at Time 2, 19 (31%) of the final sample size were involved in oral habits, with three of the initial children still involved, giving an incidence rate of 26.2%. Of the initial five non-nutritive suckers at Time 1, four were digit suckers and one a lip sucker. At Time 2, eight children were involved in digit sucking; seven in tongue thrusting/sucking, two in both digit and tongue sucking and two were nail biters. Five (4.5%) of 11 subjects with a Class 1 molar relationship at Time 1 had a Class II molar relationship at Time 2. The correlations between the oral habits at the two stages of occlusal development and anterior open bite were statistically significant (P < 0.01)., Conclusions: There was an increase in the number of children involved in oral habits at the early mixed dentition stage with significant correlations between oral habits and anterior open bite as well as a higher tendency towards Class II molar relationship for those with initial Class I.

This case report describes the treatment of a patient with a Class II malocclusion with an anterior open bite. The patient, a girl 16 years of age, had a significant anteroposterior discrepancy and a high-angle tendency. Her face was convex, with competent lips. Intraorally she had an anterior open bite of 3 mm, space in the mandibular arch, and an overjet of 2 mm. High-pull headgear, anterior intermaxillary elastics, and appropriate wire bending were used to close the bite and to correct the anteroposterior dental relationship. Modification of a tongue thrust habit helped to correct this significant malocclusion and provided stability at 11 years posttreatment.

Objective: A treatment package combining oral-motor and behavioral interventions was implemented for a 6-year-old girl with Down syndrome referred to an intensive day treatment feeding program for gastrostomy tube dependence and food refusal. The participant exhibited a tongue thrust, resulting in the expulsion of all foods presented., Method: An oral-motor procedure was used to reduce the tongue thrust and allow the food to be swallowed. This procedure was paired with positive reinforcement and escape prevention to increase oral consumption of liquids and solids. A multiple-probe design was used to evaluate treatment effectiveness., Results: By the end of treatment, tube feedings were eliminated and tongue thrust was significantly reduced., Conclusion: This intervention demonstrated the successful combination of oral-motor and behavioral components in the treatment of a severe feeding problem. It could serve as a model for the development of future interventions.

Cerebral palsy (CP) is one of the most frequent conditions encountered in the daily practice of dentists who treat special-needs patients and it seems that parafunctional oral habits are often present in such individuals. The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of occurrence of parafunctional habits in individuals with CP. Sixty-five patients with CP were evaluated through a questionnaire and clinical observation, regarding the following habits: pacifier-sucking, finger-sucking, biting objects, tongue interposition, and bruxism. The results showed that nine (13.8%) patients presented with pacifier-sucking, four (6.1%) showed finger-sucking, 12 (18.4%) had the habit of biting objects, 27 (41.5%) presented with tongue interposition, and 24 (36.9%) had eccentric bruxism. The significance of the presence of oral parafunctional habits in individuals with CP, revealed in this study, justifies the need to establish protocols for adequate prevention and clinical intervention in order to minimize the deleterious consequences that may result from such habits.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the swallowing patterns of the tongue using B-mode sonography. A total of 65 patients aged between eight and 35 years were enrolled in the study including 25 controls. The swallowing patterns of the 40 patients were divided into groups of ten normal, 12 inconsistent, and 18 abnormal. Eight patients with a swallowing abnormality had Angle Class I occlusions, two had Class II, and the remaining ten patients had Class III. The majority of abnormal or inconsistent swallowing patterns were found in cases of mandibular prognathism. Quantitative data was not analyzed in this study. The results of this study show that B-mode sonography, being a non-invasive procedure permitting direct visualization of the movements of the tongue in both coronal and sagittal planes, can be used with certainty for diagnosing swallowing abnormalities.

The role of tongue thrust has often been suspected, long debated and largely dispelled as a primary etiological factor of malocclusion. However, tongue thrust may contribute to poor occlusal intercuspation both during and after treatment. A tongue thrust may also develop during orthodontic mechanotherapy as a result of the transient creation of intra and interarch spaces and this little recognized phenomenon was found to occur in many randomly followed cases. In many instances, this seemingly adaptive and secondary response of the tongue posture and function may persist and thereafter impede the resolution of intra and interarch problems.

The oral myofunctional disorder of tongue thrust has been described in various ways, such as 'deviate swallow' 'infantile swallow, and 'abnormal swallow' to name a few. The term 'tongue thrust' has been adopted, mainly because of its greater usage among authors, and since it gives a more accurate description of the lingual behavior about to be discussed. 'Tongue thrust' and 'tongue thrusting' are used in preference to 'tongue thrust swallow' or 'tongue thrust swallowing' because this behavior is generally thought to be less associated with the act of swallowing and more with the resting posture of the tongue. 'Thrust' is still an inappropriate word since the tongue is not really 'thrusting' during rest. However, it must be remembered that 'thrusting' in this instance is still a mild but continuous lingual pressure factor. The significance lies in whether or not this 'thrust, either during swallowing and other functional behaviors, or during rest, is responsible for, contributes to, or is a consequence of the development of a malocclusion.