Buccal and lingual soft tissue pressures In different malocclusions

Introduction: Muscular environment of the teeth is thought to be one of the major factors in determining the form and maintenance of the human dental arch. It is imperative to study the labial/buccal and lingual resting and swallowing pressure over the upper and lower central incisors and first permanent molars respectively, in different malocclusions, in natural head position, hence this being the aim of the study. Material and Methods: The study sample consisted of 60 subjects (30 males and 30 females) with an average age of 19.35 years. The sample was divided into groups based on skeletal and dental classification, gender, and vertical growth pattern. EPL BO Diaphragm Pressure Transducer was used to measure the pressures exerted by buccal and lingual soft tissues. Pressure variability’s were compared between subjects of normal occlusion with Class II division 1, Class II division 2, and Class III individuals statistically. Results : Comparison showed a significant difference between the various skeletal classifications in generating pressure from the peri-oral musculature. Conclusions: It was also observed that males had a greater magnitude of pressures than females of the same skeletal pattern. Vertical growth pattern analysis showed that low angle subjects had higher-pressure values than high angle individuals.