Investigation of tongue movements during swallowing with M-mode ultrasonography.

AIM

Evaluation of tongue movements during swallowing with a computer-aided, M-mode ultrasonography system in combination with a cushioning device.

SUBJECTS AND METHOD

Motion pattern and activity duration of the tongue dorsum during swallowing were investigated in 55 volunteers.

RESULTS

The duration, amplitude and pattern of tongue movements during swallowing differed interindividually, whereas they were reproduced well intra-individually. We thus observed three characteristic variations in phases I and IIIb and two in phases IIb and IIIa. The movement pattern in phase IIa and in the rest phase was uniform.

CONCLUSIONS

M-mode ultrasonography provides valid information on tongue movements without any side-effects and is thus a useful tool in the diagnosis and research of tongue functions in orthodontics and dentistry.