THE INFLUENCE OF ANATOMICAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL FEATURES OF THE TONGUE ON THE DISTURBANCE OF ARTICULATIVE AND ORAL KINETIC PRAXIS IN THE PRESENCE OF DENTOFACIAL ANOMALIES

The position of the tongue plays an important role in the etiology of the development of dentofacial anomalies, malocclusions, in particular anterior open bite. The literature suggests that the topography of the tongue at rest is more important for the development of the jaws and the formation of occlusion than the function of the tongue during speech or swallowing. Ultrasound can be used to visualize the objective position of the tongue in children. The aim of the study was to conduct a comparative analysis of data on tongue topography based on ultrasound and clinical assessment at rest. To establish the relationship between incorrect tongue position on the background of anterior open bite and disorders of articulatory and oral kinetic praxis. The study involved 80 children aged 7 to 10 years and 14 children aged 16-18 years with diagnosed anterior open bite without gender distribution. The control group consisted of 40 people without visualized dentofacial deformities. The prevalence, frequency of anterior open bite and speech impairment were established using an epidemiological study of both groups during preventive examinations for the period from 2021 to 2024. Articulatory and oral kinetic praxis disorders were detected in 79.8% of cases among children in the main group who were diagnosed with anterior open bite and in 18.7% of cases among schoolchildren in the control group. In the main group, articulation disorders in the form of sigmatism (29.3%), rotacism (21.3%), and multiple speech function disorders were detected in 11.2% of cases. In the control group, sigmatism was diagnosed in 9.2% of cases, rotacism in 4.7%, and multiple speech disorders were recorded in 2.9% of cases. In total, there were 32 schoolchildren with disorders of articulatory praxis in the main and control groups. Among them, 26 people had a resting tongue topography at the bottom of the mouth. Of the 38 children without articulation disorders, there were 4 people with atypical resting tongue topography (at p < 0.05). Ultrasound data showed that the incorrect position of the tongue at rest and the presence of an anterior open bite were associated in 68.5% of cases. It has been proven that in children in whom the architectonics of the tongue was visualized below the horizontal line (closer to the oral mucosa), the presence of this dentofacial anomaly was recorded in 72.6% of cases. Ultrasound visualization of the topography of the tongue is an important tool for objective assessment of its position, explains the occurrence of dentofacial anomalies and speech disorders. Ultrasound is important for further assessment of the effectiveness of orthodontic treatment and rehabilitation.