[Jaw and dental abnormalities in children with cerebral movement disorders]. / Kiefer- und Geblissanomalien bei Kindern mit cerebralen Bewegungsstörungen

The dentitions of 146 children with cerebral palsy showed a high incidence of gnathic anomalies. There was, however, no relation between these anomalies and the severity of the neuropathological findings. Also the total number of anomalies was almost evenly distributed among the various clinical pictures such as spasticity, athetosis, ataxia. Although combinations of the individual anomalies were found most frequently, marked protrusions of the upper jaw were particularly impressive with 55%, and were followed by class II malformations (47%). In addition, almost every third tested child had an open bite.

[Tongue pathology and its effect on the stomatognathous system in juvenile cerebral movement disorders]. / Zungenpathologie und ihre Auswirkung auf das stomatognathe System bei cerebralen Bewegungsstörungen im Kindesalter

Studies in 146 children with cerebral palsy revealed a definite relation between malfunctioning, size, and location of the lingual muscle and the development of the dentition. The results may be regarded as a confirmation of the so-called functional adaptation theory first observed by ROUX in 1921. The formative influence of the maxillo-facial musculature-including the musculature of the tongue-on the development of the dentition is determined by the proper interaction of the various groups of muscles. Oral muscular malfunctioning, as is often observed in children with cerebral palsy, therefore has a direct influence on the malformation of the jaws and the dentition.