[Tongue pathology and its effect on the stomatognathous system in juvenile cerebral movement disorders]

Studies in 146 children with cerebral palsy revealed a definite relation between malfunctioning, size, and location of the lingual muscle and the development of the dentition. The results may be regarded as a confirmation of the so-called functional adaptation theory first observed by ROUX in 1921. The formative influence of the maxillo-facial musculature-including the musculature of the tongue-on the development of the dentition is determined by the proper interaction of the various groups of muscles. Oral muscular malfunctioning, as is often observed in children with cerebral palsy, therefore has a direct influence on the malformation of the jaws and the dentition.