Tongue training technique for guiding the mandible in establishing horizontal jaw relation in edentulous patients.

Abstract

Edentulous patients have poor neuromuscular proprioception to guide the mandible to the desirable horizontal relation. Horizontal jaw relation is a complex relationship in which variation may occur in vertical, anteroposterior and mediolateral directions. The aim of this study was to train the tongue and bring the mandible to centric relation in geriatric edentulous cases. Protrude the tongue to the maximum length and retract back to centric relation, move the tongue on the left side beyond the angle of the mouth and bringing back to centric relation, move the tongue on the right and left side beyond the angle of the mouth and bringing back to centric relation, then the tongue should move upwards and touches the marginal tubercle of upper lip and bringing back to centric relation and move the tongue upward and posteriorly to touch the posterior part of the hard palate of the maxilla and swallowing. Edentulous patient can successfully move the mandible in centric relation after training the tongue. The present technique is useful for establishment of horizontal jaw relation in edentulous cases using tongue training exercise in Prosthodontic dentistry.