[The suprahyoid muscles and functional appliances]

Area of Science:

• Orthodontics
• Physiology
• Anatomy

Background:

• Functional appliances are common orthodontic tools for influencing mandibular growth.
• The role of suprahyoid muscles in mandibular development is an under-explored area.
• Muscle balance is hypothesized to significantly impact growth outcomes.

Observation:

• The study reviews orthodontic literature concerning functional appliances and introduces suprahyoid muscles as a potential factor in mandibular growth.
• Physiology, functions, and the relationship between suprahyoid muscles and tongue posture are discussed.
• Experimental evidence for this hypothesis is challenging to obtain.

Findings:

• An imbalance in suprahyoid muscles can either increase or decrease mandibular growth.
• Therapeutic interventions may involve tongue re-education or specific functional appliance designs.
• Case studies examined hyoid bone changes post-treatment.

Implications:

• Suprahyoid muscle function is a critical consideration in orthodontic treatment planning.
• Tongue re-education and functional appliances offer potential therapeutic avenues for modulating mandibular growth.
• Further research is needed to experimentally validate the influence of suprahyoid muscles on mandibular development.