Evaluation of the maximum tongue and lip pressure in individuals with Class I, II, or III Angle malocclusions and different facial types.
Fernanda Alvarenga Guimarães Martins, Andréa Rodrigues Motta, Leniana Santos Neves and 1 others
PMID 37436259WHAT IT FOUND
Adults with Class I, II, or III bite problems showed no difference in tongue or lip strength.
Vertical facial types had lower posterior tongue pressure than mesofacial types. Do not expect malocclusion alone to predict orofacial muscle strength.
Key findings
01There was no statistically significant difference in tongue pressure, lip pressure, or tongue endurance when comparing individuals with Class I, II, and III malocclusions.
02A statistically significant difference was found in maximum posterior tongue pressure between mesofacial and vertical facial types.
03When facial types were compared within each malocclusion group, there were no statistically significant differences.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The sample size was small, particularly when participants were divided into subgroups for analysis. The study only included adults, so findings may not apply to children or the elderly. Participants were healthy individuals seeking orthodontic treatment, excluding those with cognitive, visual, or auditory impairments or previous orofacial myofunctional therapy. High standard deviations were observed, indicating significant individual variability in pressure measurements. The pressure measurement is semi-objective and depends on the patient's willingness and understanding to exert maximum force.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that a patient's bite classification determines their oral muscle strength. The study found no significant differences in tongue or lip pressure among Class I, II, and III malocclusions. Additionally, the finding of lower posterior tongue pressure in vertical facial types did not hold up when analyzed within specific malocclusion groups, so it should not be used as a standalone diagnostic marker for weakness.