為了瞭解舌頭在咬合發展所扮演的角色，本實驗使用超音波、傳統測顱 X 光 片及牙弓模型為測量工具，檢測舌頭吞嚥功能與齒顏面形態的相關性。選取 112 名健康的成年志願者為受測對象（男性 74 位，女性 38 位，平均年齡為 2 2 歲），以電腦輔助 B 模式結合 M 模式口腔超音波防震掃描技術評估吞嚥時 舌頭的運動情形，計算舌頭在不同吞嚥分期的運動持續時間、運動振幅以及 速度，並以簡單相關分析法求得與齒顏面形態的相關性。
結果顯示：舌頭吞嚥運動與齒顏面形態間是有相關的，尤其以早期終止期
（ Phase IIIa ）的運動振幅和齒顏面形態的相關性最為顯著，而運動持續時間 及速度與齒顏面形態間較無相關。在齒顏面形態方面，以上下顎骨垂直關係 及下顎第一大臼齒萌出度，和舌頭吞嚥運動的相關性最為顯著，但在離舌頭 較遠處的顱底以及上顎骨的前後、垂直與旋轉關係，與舌頭吞嚥運動較無關 聯；隨著牙弓長度的增加，在晚期終止期的吞嚥持續時間會延長。
由本實驗可知，不同齒顏面形態的個體的舌頭吞嚥功能是有差異的；使用電 腦輔助 B 模式結合 M 模式口腔超音波防震掃描技術，來評估吞嚥時舌頭運動 功能和齒顏面形態之間的關係時，是一種簡單、方便且值得推薦的研究工具。
以超音波觀察不同齒顏面形態成年人的舌頭吞嚥功 能
。
To understand the role of tongue in the development of occlusion, the relationshi p between tongue movements during swallowing and dentofacial morphology was examined by ultrasonography, cephalometric radiography and dental casts. The co mputer-aided B+M-mode ultrasonography was used to assess their tongue moveme nts. Duration, magnitude and speed of tongue movements in different swallowing p hase were measured from 112 healthy adult volunteers and compared with their den tofacial morphology using a simple correlation analysis. The results show that the movements of tongue during swallowing are related to the dentofacial morphology especially in the motion magnitude of the early final phase (phase IIIa), while only few correlations are found when analyzing the duration and speed of swallowing. T he results also present that the intermaxillary vertical relation has significantly posit ive relation with the motion magnitude of the tongue movements; however, the cra nial base (component 1) and the maxilla (component 2-4), except the palatal depth, show no correlation to swallowing. Furthermore, arch length is found increased wit h prolonged duration of swallowing. This study also elucidated that the computer-ai ded B+M-mode ultrasonography in combination with the cushion-scanning techniq ue serves as a valuable tool for investigation of the relationship between tongue mo vements during swallowing and dentofacial forms.
Ultrasound Investigation of the Tongue Function during Swallowing in Different Dentofacial
Forms
