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

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.