[Follow-up study of dyskinesia-induced dysgnathias following myofunctional therapy].

Forty-eight patients with dysgnathia brought about by tongue dyskinesia underwent myofunctional therapy leading up to and at the beginning of orthodontic treatment. Short- and long-term results of this therapy were studied with the help of indirect palatography. Palatographs of empty swallowing and the test consonants "L", "N", "S" and "T" were evaluated visually and metrically. The palatographs were made prior to myofunctional therapy and thereafter first at the end of the therapy, then at the end of the control or supervision period, and finally, after on average 4 years. Visual evaluation revealed a clearly recognizable change in all functions when compared with the physiological palatographs. A change in the "S" consonant sound was the least conspicuous. Metric evaluation revealed for the 4 out of 5 of the test functions, namely, empty swallowing and the consonants "L", "N", and "T", marked long-term dorsal orientation of the tongue. The short-term changes in tongue function were more prevalent than the long-term.