Abstract
Objective: The study retrospectively determined if differences in dentofacial growth measures and airway morphology exist between patients with high tongue posture (HTP) and low tongue posture (LTP).
Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted of 69 consecutively enrolled patients presenting for orthodontic therapy at Loma Linda University School of Dentistry (LLUSD) graduate orthodontics clinic. Patients were divided into two cohorts based upon exhibition of high tongue posture (HTP) or low tongue posture (LTP) and were compared for differences in dentofacial growth and airway morphology. Sagittal and vertical growth measures were evaluated via lateral cephalogram imaging. Transverse and airway volumetric measures were evaluated via cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) imaging. Mann-Whitney U test and ANCOVA test were used to assess for statistically significant differences between cohorts.
Results: The mean age within the HTP cohort was 14.5 years (±2.0 years standard deviation) amongst 18 males and 26 females. The mean age within the LTP cohort was 15.7 years (±2.8 years standard deviation) amongst 12 males and 13 females. In the transverse dimension, HTP patients were found to exhibit increased maxillary-to-mandibular ratios in intermolar width and alveolar width relative to LTP patients. In the vertical dimension, HTP patients were found to exhibit decreased gonial angle, increased posterior-to-anterior facial height ratio (SGo-NMe), decreased mandibular plane angle (MP-SN), and a decreased facial axis angle relative to LTP patients. No significant differences were observed among outcome measures in the sagittal or airway dimensions.
Conclusion: Significant differences in dentofacial growth were observed in this study between HTP and LTP patients in the vertical and transverse dimensions. No significant differences in dentofacial growth were observed in this study between HTP and LTP patients in the sagittal and airway dimensions. Further study is indicated to elucidate the causal relationships between resting tongue posture and dentofacial growth and airway morphology.
LLU Discipline
Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics
Department
Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics
School
School of Dentistry
First Advisor
V. Leroy Leggitt
Second Advisor
Toufic Jeiroudi
Third Advisor
Gina Roque-Torres
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Degree Level
M.S.
Year Degree Awarded
2021
Date (Title Page)
9-2021
Language
English
Library of Congress/MESH Subject Headings
Spiral Cone-Beam Computed Tomography; Tongue -- growth and development; Orthodontics
Type
Thesis
Page Count
xii, 30 p.
Digital Format
Digital Publisher
Loma Linda University Libraries
Copyright
Author
Usage Rights
This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.
Recommended Citation
Oh, James DDS, "Impact of Resting Tongue Posture on Dentofacial Growth and Airway Morphology" (2021). Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects. 2677.
https://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/2677
Collection
Loma Linda University Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Collection Website
http://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/
Repository
Loma Linda University. Del E. Webb Memorial Library. University Archives
