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Long-term study of incidence of tongue-thrust from age 4 to 18 finds the dysfunction disappearing in some individuals and appearing in others. A small study of the effect of tongue-thrust therapy on stability of overjet correction suggests a beneficial effect.

The purpose of the present paper is to present evidence to support the following hypotheses: (1) there is a relationship between tongue thrust and malocclusion, and it is probably a reciprocal one; (2) tongue thrust may yield spontaneously to non-thrusting patterns; (3) if tongue thrust does not yield spontaneously to nonthrusting patterns, some form of treatment should be considered; (4) if myofunctional therapy is the treatment of choice, its timing with respect to patient age, developmental factors, and orthodontic treatment should be an individual matter. The need for more definitive research is described. In order for such research to be meaningful, a standard definition of tongue thrust is required. Such a definition is proposed.