Tongue myofunctional exercises improve tongue posture of children with class III malocclusion

The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes of craniofacial morphology and tongue position in children with Class III malocclusion after tongue myofunctional exercises (TME). TME were applied to 25 patients with class III malocclusion for 1.01 ± 0.02 years. Lateral cephalograms were taken and cephalometric analysis was evaluated. Compared with the control group, facial angle, S-Ti length and S-Tu length increased significant in class III subjects. However, significant reductions of SNA angle, ANB angle, Y axis angle, the angle of convexity, S-Go length, NSTu angle and NSTi angle were noted. The cephalometric variables such as mandibular plane angle, ANS-Me length, S-Tu length and S-Ti length were significantly reduced after TME in class III subjects. Meanwhile, the S-Go length, the NSTu angle and the NSTi angle increased significant. TME may change tongue position and craniofacial morphology. Furthermore, it may be particularly beneficial for treatment of class III malocclusion.