Evaluation of tongue pressure on the loop of transpalatal arch with acrylic button during deglutition in hyperdivergent patients

Introduction: To evaluate and compare the tongue pressure exerted on the acrylic button of variable size (10 mm and 14 mm) attached to the loop of trans palatal arch (TPA), placed at two different vertical heights (4 mm and 6 mm) from palatal mucosa during deglutition in hyperdivergent patients.Materials and Methods: Tongue pressure was measured in 20 hyperdivergent patients (9 males and 11 females; age range 16–19 years with mean age 18.2 years) using FSR (Force sensing resistor) pressure sensors attached to acrylic button of TPA. Readings were obtained on amplifier attached to another end of sensor. In each patient, the tongue pressure was measured at two different vertical heights of TPA (4 mm and 6 mm) from palatal mucosa. At each vertical height diameter of acrylic button was also varied (10 mm and 14 mm). Hence, a total of 4 variables for each patient were evaluated. Measurements were divided into two groups – Group I (acrylic button of 10 mm size) and Group II (acrylic button of 14 mm size). Groups were further divided into subgroups (A and B) – Group IA (acrylic button of 10 mm size at 4 mm height), Group IB (acrylic button of 10 mm size at 6 mm height), Group IIA (acrylic button of 14 mm size at 4 mm height), and Group IIB (acrylic button of 14 mm size at 6 mm height). Unpaired Student's t-test was used for adequate intra- and inter-group comparisons.Results: The mean tongue pressures for Group IIB was maximum (2.11 ± 0.228 N/cm2) > Group IB (1.81 ± 0.169 N/cm2) > Group IIA (1.57 ± 0.167 N/cm2) > Group IA (1.30 ± 0.109 N/cm2) and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.001) for all the intergroup comparisions.Conclusion: The tongue pressure measured on acrylic button of TPA in our study was in the range of 247–400 g (1.30–2.11 N/cm2), which can be used to intrude molars in hyperdivergent individuals, thereby achieving counter-clockwise rotation of mandible.