Department of Orthodontics, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop. 2010 Nov;138(5):608-12. doi: 10.1016/j.ajodo.2008.12.028.
Incorrect tongue posture on the mouth floor is considered an important factor in the etiology of unilateral posterior crossbite. The aim of this study was to objectively assess tongue posture in children with unilateral posterior crossbite and those with normal deciduous dentition by using 3-dimensional (3D) ultrasonography.
First, referential 3D ultrasound images for differently postured tongues were acquired and reconstructed in 10 adults. Second, 27 children with unilateral posterior crossbite (mean age, 5.4 ± 1 years) and 23 children with normal deciduous dentition (mean age, 6.2 ± 0.4 years) were examined by using the 3D ultrasound technique. The referential 3D ultrasound reconstructions were used for the assessment of tongue posture in each child.
The characteristic 3D reconstruction of the tongue postured on the palate displays distinctive convexity of the tongue dorsum, whereas, in the 3D reconstruction with the tongue postured on the mouth floor, the dorsum is characterized by a central groove and expressed concavity. Posture on the mouth floor was demonstrated by 81.5% of the children with unilateral posterior crossbite and by only 34.8% of those with normal deciduous dentition. The difference was statistically significant (Fisher exact test: P = 0.0012).
Three-dimensional ultrasonography enables objective assessment of tongue posture and could become in the future an important part of functional diagnostics before, during, and after orthodontic treatment.
在上颚不正确的舌位被认为是单侧后牙反𬌗病因的一个重要因素。本研究旨在通过三维（3D）超声检查客观评估单侧后牙反𬌗儿童和正常乳牙列儿童的舌位。
首先，获取并重建了 10 名成年人不同姿势的参考 3D 超声图像。其次，使用 3D 超声技术检查了 27 名单侧后牙反𬌗儿童（平均年龄 5.4 ± 1 岁）和 23 名正常乳牙列儿童（平均年龄 6.2 ± 0.4 岁）。使用参考 3D 超声重建来评估每个儿童的舌位。
上颚的舌位特征性 3D 重建显示出舌背的明显凸度，而在口底的舌位 3D 重建中，舌背则表现为中央沟和明显的凹陷。81.5%的单侧后牙反𬌗儿童表现为口底位，而只有 34.8%的正常乳牙列儿童表现为口底位。差异有统计学意义（Fisher 确切检验：P = 0.0012）。
3D 超声检查能够客观评估舌位，将来可能成为正畸治疗前后功能诊断的重要组成部分。
