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The relationship between tongue-base position and craniofacial morphology in preschool children

Naoko Niikuni1, Ichiro Nakajima, Morito Akasaka

  • 1Department of Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Nihon University, Tokyo, Japan. niikuni@dent.nihon-u.ac.jp

The Journal of Clinical Pediatric Dentistry
|February 19, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Tongue-base position influences craniofacial growth in preschool children. This study found correlations between tongue posture and facial development, impacting maxillo-mandibular growth even at a young age.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Dentistry
  • Craniofacial Morphology
  • Orthodontics

Background:

  • Tongue-base position is a critical factor in craniofacial development.
  • Understanding early influences on jaw growth is essential for timely intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between tongue-base position and craniofacial morphology in preschool children.
  • To determine if age and sex influence these relationships.

Main Methods:

  • Lateral cephalometric radiographs were used to analyze craniofacial structures.
  • Measurements included posterior facial height, nasal floor length, mandibular corpus length, and tongue-base position.
  • Statistical analysis was performed to identify correlations.

Main Results:

  • No significant sex-based differences were observed in the measurements.
  • Tongue-base position, posterior facial height, nasal floor length, and mandibular corpus length all showed positive correlations with age.
  • Tongue-base position was significantly correlated with maxillary position, vertical mandibular rotation, and nasopharyngeal airway space.

Conclusions:

  • Tongue-base position significantly influences maxillo-mandibular growth in preschool children.
  • Early identification of tongue posture can aid in predicting and managing craniofacial development.
  • These findings highlight the importance of evaluating tongue posture in pediatric dental assessments.

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