Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2025 Aug 12;29(9):407.
doi: 10.1007/s00784-025-06483-2.

Brief orofacial myofunctional therapy and tongue pressure as prediction factors for open bite correction: a randomized clinical trial

Thagid Yasmin Leal  1 , Daniela Garib  2 , Henrique Eto  2 , Raquel Rosa  3 , Felicia Miranda  2 , Asenate Soares  3 , Ana Paula Fukushiro  3 , Giédre Berretin-Felix  3
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Brief orofacial myofunctional therapy and tongue pressure as prediction factors for open bite correction: a randomized clinical trial

Thagid Yasmin Leal et al. Clin Oral Investig. .

Erratum in

Abstract

Objectives: To compare changes in tongue pressure during anterior open bite (AOB) treatment using a fixed palatal crib (PC) alone versus PC combined with brief orofacial myofunctional therapy (OMT), and to determine whether these changes predict overbite correction.

Materials and methods: Thirty-two patients were divided into two groups: the PC group received a fixed palatal crib alone, while the PC-OMT group received PC plus weekly OMT sessions for the first two months. Lateral cephalometric radiographs and tongue pressure measurements using the Iowa Oral Performance Instrument (IOPI) were collected at baseline (T1) and after open bite correction or 12 months later when the appliance was removed (T2). Primary outcomes included changes in tongue pressure and overbite. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) controlled for initial open bite severity (p < 0.05). Linear regression analyzed the relationship between tongue pressure changes and overbite correction.

Results: Each group included 16 patients (PC: 3 males, 13 females; mean age 8.65± 0.93 years; PC-OMT: 9 males, 7 females; mean age 7.97 ± 1.00 years). Both groups showed similar overbite improvements. Tongue pressure increased in all variables across groups; however, swallowing pressure increased significantly less in the PC-OMT group. Changes in tongue pressure were not associated with overbite correction.

Conclusions: Treatment with PC alone or combined with brief OMT yielded comparable overbite corrections. The addition of OMT moderated tongue pressure increases during swallowing. Changes in tongue pressure did not predict open bite correction in mixed dentition.

Clinical relevance: Brief OMT combined with PC may reduce atypical swallowing post-crib removal, supporting long-term treatment stability.

Keywords: Dentition, mixed; Myofunctional therapy; Open bite; Orthodontics.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Ethics approval: This study was approved by the Ethics Committee in Human Research of Buru Dental School, University of São Paulo-Brazil, under protocol number 58820022.5.0000.5417. Informed consent: Written informed consent was obtained from all individual participants/legal guardians included in the study. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

References

    1. Stahl F, Grabowski R (2003) Orthodontic findings in the deciduous and early mixed dentition–inferences for a preventive strategy. J Orofac Orthop 64:401–416. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00056-003-0313-8 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Speidel TM, Isaacson RJ, Worms FW (1972) Tongue-thrust therapy and anterior dental open-bite: A review of new facial growth data. Am J Orthod 62:287–295. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0002-9416(72)90267-9 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Cleall JF (1965) Deglutition: a study of form and function. Am J Orthod 51:566–94. https://doi.org/10.1016/0002-9416(65)90028-x - DOI - PubMed
    1. Peng CL, Jost-Brinkmann PG, Yoshida N, Miethke RR, Lin CT (2003) Differential diagnosis between infantile and mature swallowing with ultrasonography. Eur J Orthod 25:451–456. https://doi.org/10.1093/ejo/25.5.451 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Burford D, Noar JH (2003) The causes, diagnosis and treatment of anterior open bite. Dent Update 30:235–241. https://doi.org/10.12968/denu.2003.30.5.235 - DOI - PubMed

Publication types

LinkOut - more resources