Lingual function in children with anterior open bite: A case-control study.

The position of the tongue during phonation and swallowing can modify the position of the teeth and even the growth of the jaws. OBJECTIVE: To determine the association between the position of the tongue and phonation among individuals with normal vertical overbite (NVO) and anterior open bite (AOB). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a case-control study of 132 students with AOB and 132 controls with NVO between the ages of 8 and 16 years old. The presence of AOB was determined during a clinical examination using a Boley gauge, phonation (speech) was assessed with an articulation test, which was analysed using a classification table of Spanish consonants spoken in Colombia, and tongue contact during swallowing was determined with the Payne test. Associations were determined between AOB and the position of the tongue upon swallowing and during speech (Chi2 test of independence, Fisher's exact test, and Mann-Whitey U test, P<0.005). Finally, a logistic regression model was performed, with AOB as the dependent variable. RESULTS: We found associations between AOB and the presence of lingual interposition, distortion, lingual thrust, protrusion of the tongue, contact with palatine rugae, and type of dentition (P<0.05). According to the logistic regression model, the presence of lingual thrust (odds ratio (OR): 0.067; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.009-0.518) and contact with the palatine rugae (OR: 0.420; 0.216-0.818) behave as protective factors associated with the presence of AOB, and the presence of distortion was found to be a risk factor (OR: 10.751; 95%CI: 5.658-20.427). CONCLUSION: Lingual thrust, interposition, and protrusion are associated with AOB. Lingual thrust and contact of the tongue with the palatine rugae behave as protective factors, and the presence of distortion acts as a risk factor.

Prevalence of dyslalias in 8 to 16 year-old students with anterior open bite in the municipality of Envigado, Colombia.

BACKGROUND: Anterior open bite AOB is the most common malocclusion associated with speech disorders and the literature has shown that problems of occlusion involve all oral functions. AOB not only produce aesthetic and occlusal problems for the patient and modifies the union of the lips, tongue, teeth, palate, palatal rugae and oropharynx, and thus affecting the ability to communicate well with their surroundings. The prevalence of AOB in children and adolescent in our population is unknown. Furthermore, the most frequent type of dyslalias in children with this malocclusion is also unknown. Therefore, the aim of the study was to describe the frequency and types of dyslalia in students between 8-16 years with AOB, as well as the difference in the types of dyslalia according to the magnitude of AOB. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted. Clinical assessment of AOB in students from the municipality of Envigado, Colombia, was performed. Students from 8 to 16 years of age were examined during the second semester of 2011 and first semester of 2012. Phonoaudiological assessment was carried out in students in the mixed or permanent dentition. Exclusion criteria included children with history of systemic disease, altered skeletal development, neurological and psychiatric disorders, and residents in other departments. In addition, students undergoing orthodontic treatment at the time of evaluation or with history of previous orthodontic treatment, as well as those who did not cooperate with the oral cavity evaluation, were excluded. RESULTS: Six thousand one hundred sixty five children were evaluated. One hundred sixty six presented AOB (prevalence: 2.7 %; 95 % CI: 2.28-3.10). Thirty four students were excluded. 26.5 % of the sample presented mild AOB, 66.7 % moderate, and 6.8 % severe. Some type of dyslalia was found in 77.4 % of the students, being distortion (75.8 %) the most common. The most frequently altered phonemes were: / d / t / s / ch / ñ /. No significant association between different types of dyslalia and AOB severity (p-value = 0.974) was found. CONCLUSION: Prevalence of AOB in Envigado is low (2.7 %). Phonation alterations are very common in children with AOB (77.8 %), and distortion is the most frequent type of dyslalia (75.8 %). In order to diagnose and treat occlusal and phonetic problems, and to avoid possible recurrence, interdisciplinary approach is recommended.