• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.246-250
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• 2000

The oral screen is a functional appliance, suitable for the treatment of developing malocclusion associated with aberrant muscular patterns. The better muscle balance between tongue and the buccinator mechanism can be established, and the reestablishment of normal growth and development can be achieved. The oral screen can be used for the correction of the following conditions : (1) thumbsucking, tongue thrusting and lip biting, (2) mouth breathing, (3) mild distocclusion with premaxillary protrusion, (4) open bites in deciduous and mixed dentition, and (5) incompetent lips. The patient should wear the oral screen every night and also during the day whenever possible. The effects of oral screen can be elevated through lip seal exercise : the lips should be kept in contact all the time to improve the lip seal. In the presented two cases, the patients were considered mouth breathers and to have incompetent lips, and one patient with maxillary incisal protrusion and the other with open bite. They were instructed to wear the oral screen with lip seal exercise. After wearing the appliance for 1 and 2 years respectively, mouth breathing was decreased and lip length and strength were increased, the maxillary incisors were retruded and open bite reduced.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.233-241
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• 2015

The aim of this study was to determine the bite force and lip closing force in preschool children and to analyze the correlation between these forces by age, height and weight, respectively. Data were obtained from 98 children (56 males, 42 females) ranging from 3 to 6 years of age. The magnitude of the bite force was measured bilaterally corresponding with the 2nd primary molars using a bite force gauge, $GM10^{(R)}$ (Nagano Keiki) and the force of lip closure was measured using LIP DE $CUM^{(R)}$ (Cosmo Instruments). The averages of bite force for boys and girls were 217.69 N and 205.05 N, respectively. The relationship between bite force with age, height, and weight present significant positive correlation (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, and p < 0.001, respectively). The averages of lip closing force for boys and girls were 4.81 N and 4.07 N respectively. The relationship between lip closing force with age, height, and weight present significant positive correlation (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, and p < 0.001, respectively). No significant differences were observed between boys and girls (p > 0.05) in both forces. A significant correlation was observed between lip closing force and bite force (p = 0.002).