title: Tongue position after deglutition in subjects with habitual open-mouth posture under different functional conditions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To test the null hypothesis of no significant differences in (1) the duration of the post-deglutory, cranial tongue rest position (CTP) between different functional orofacial conditions and (2) the presence or absence of an oral screen (OS) in subjects with a habitual open-mouth posture.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-nine subjects (aged 6-16; mean: 9.69 years; 13/16 girls/boys) were selected according to the inclusion criterion of a habitual, daytime open-mouth posture.
  
  
  METHODS
  Deglutition was screened at baseline during resting respiration using orofacial polysensography and simultaneous assessment of tongue-to-palate position and nasal airstream, during five functional intervals of 8 min each: F1 without instruction (RR); F2 the same, but including an oral screen (RROS); F3 with OS and the instruction to maintain a tongue-to-palate contact (IROS); F4 with OS and the instruction to perform tongue repositioning manoeuvres at the time of spontaneous swallowing (TRMOS); and F5 corresponds to F3 omitting OS (IR). Duration and frequency of deglutition were analysed descriptively as well as by anova and subsequent multiple comparisons, and the CTP was evaluated with chi-square tests and paired comparisons at a significance level of 5%.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 542 identified swallowing acts, 75% were accompanied by a post-deglutory CTP. Mean duration of CTP increased for functional conditions RR/1.01s > RROS/2.56s > IR/3.21s > IROS/6.53s > TRMOS/6.58s. The null hypothesis (1) was rejected in comparison of resting respiration (F1, F2) with IROS and TRMOS, whereas the use of an oral screen alone did not significantly prolong the duration of CTP.
authors.affiliation: Michael Knösel, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany. mknoesel@yahoo.de
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Knösel
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Klein
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bleckmann
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Engelke
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003679:Deglutition / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009058:Mouth Breathing / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009666:Nose / Q000503:physiopathology; D055096:Optical Devices; D017289:Orthodontic Appliances, Functional; D010159:Palate / Q000473:pathology; D012123:Pulmonary Ventilation / Q000502:physiology; D012119:Respiration; D013997:Time Factors; D014059:Tongue / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D014061:Tongue Habits