[Comparative study of the intraoral pressure variations in normal subjects and in maxillofacial dysmorphosis...

The Authors examined the modification during swallow of the negative pressure in various areas of the mouth in normal individuals and in cases of malocclusion and malformations. A specially modified electronic device was used, and the measurements of compared in 25 cases. Abnormalities in pressure variation were found in cases of: 1) cleft of the lip and/or of the palate; 2) class III malocclusion presenting a law posture of the tongue; 3) lateral open-bite. No relevant alteration was found in cases of class II malocclusion. It could be suggested that the negative pressure might be one component of the neuromuscular feed-back. The values obtained in this study seem to be slightly higher than those of other Authors.