Tongue Behaviors and Their Impact On Mandibular Anterior Structure: A Finite-Element Study

This research was conducted to measure stress dissemination in the mandibular dental arch and identify possible mandibular deformations that may arise from three states of tongue behavior.

A three-dimensional evaluation of the finite-element model was used to express the tongue muscles' potential impact on the mandible's anterior region. The computer-aided design software was used to develop the model. A force of 1, 7, and 500 g/cm², representing normal rest position, normal function, and tongue thrust, respectively, was applied perpendicular to the lingual surface of the anterior part of the mandible and mandibular anterior teeth.

A higher von Mises stress, 177 MPa, was recorded in the abnormal tongue behavior state. The displacement detected in all three planes, x, y, and z, of space was highest (0.004, 0.002, and 0.03 mm, respectively) in abnormal tongue behavior and lowest in normal function (0.0000088, 0.0000047, and 0.000061 mm, respectively).

The development and growth of the craniofacial structure, possibly affected by the forces originating from abnormal tongue behavior, which could lead to outward and high pressure on the anterior structure of the mandible, with concomitant deviation in the form and position of the mandible's anterior structure.