Effect of wearing cervical headgear on tongue pressure

The purpose of this study was to examine whether wearing cervical headgear affected tongue pressure on the lingual surface of mandibular incisors, with particular attention to suprahyoid muscle activity. Tongue pressure was recorded using a miniature pressure sensor without cervical headgear and with two cervical headgears with traction forces of 500 and 1200 g, respectively. Electromyographic activity of suprahyoid muscles and respiratory-related movement were recorded simultaneously. Wearing cervical headgear significantly affected tongue pressure and suprahyoid muscle activity in the short-term. A significant increase in tongue pressure was observed in association with an increase in traction force from 500 to 1200 g, whereas no significant difference in suprahyoid muscles activity was seen between these force levels. These results suggest that wearing cervical headgear increases tongue pressure on the lingual surface of mandibular incisors, and this increase in tongue pressure may result from changes in the electromyographic activity of suprahyoid muscles to maintain adequate pharyngeal patency.