Impact of Atypical Swallowing on Periodontal Health in Adults

April 16, 2026 updated by: Fabrizio Guerra, University of Roma La Sapienza

Epidemiological Investigation of Atypical Swallowing in the Adult Population: Assessment of Clinical Signs

This study aims to evaluate the prevalence of atypical (dysfunctional) swallowing in an adult population affected by periodontitis. The research investigates the correlation between dysfunctional swallowing patterns - characterized by abnormal tongue thrust-and clinical oral manifestations such as dental mobility and the worsening of periodontal conditions. By analyzing data collected through patient questionnaires and clinical evaluations, the study seeks to highlight how incorrect lingual posture and pressure can negatively influence the integrity of the tooth-supporting tissues in adults.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Detailed Description

The study aims to investigate whether atypical swallowing acts as a "secondary occlusal trauma," which exacerbates periodontal damage in tissues already compromised by inflammation.

Data Collection: Patients are screened using a specific questionnaire to detect "vicious habits" (e.g., thumb sucking, lip biting) and respiratory issues (e.g., mouth breathing due to deviated septum or adenoid hypertrophy) that contribute to incorrect lingual posture.

Clinical Indicators: The study monitors several oral manifestations associated with tongue thrust, including the formation of an anterior open bite, diastemas, localized calculus accumulation, and gingival recessions.Clinical Implications: The research explores how the lack of physiological palatal expansion and low tongue posture can lead to a narrow "ogival" palate and subsequent occlusal instability. The results are intended to validate the importance of a multidisciplinary diagnostic approach - involving dental hygienists, orthodontists, and speech therapists- to improve the long-term prognosis of periodontal therapy and prevent orthodontic relapses.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Actual)

125

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Italy
    • RM
      • Roma, RM, Italy, 00161
        • Sapienza università di Roma

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Periodontal patients belonging to the dentistry department of the Policlinico Umberto I

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • age over 18
  • periodontal patients
  • informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

  • age under 18
  • inability to understand and want
  • the language barrier such as to prevent full understanding of the questionnaire
  • any problems with surgical resection of the tongue
  • the lack of dental elements in the frontal sectors (in particular 2° and 5° sextant) or the presence of unrehabilitated edentulous saddles in those areas
  • absence of radiographic documentation
  • non-periodontal patients
  • failure to consent to the study

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Patients with periodontal disease
Patients with atyipical swallowing and periodontal disease

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Prevalence of Atypical Swallowing in Adult Periodontal Patients
Time Frame: Baseline (at the time of the single clinical examination).
The primary goal is to determine the frequency of dysfunctional swallowing patterns within a selected sample of adults diagnosed with periodontitis. This is assessed through a standardized clinical evaluation of tongue posture (at rest and during deglutition) and the administration of a structured diagnostic questionnaire. The outcome is expressed as the percentage of the study population exhibiting atypical swallowing compared to physiological swallowing.
Baseline (at the time of the single clinical examination).

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Presence of Associated clinical alterations
Time Frame: baseline
Measurement of the prevalence of specific dental-skeletal signs associated with dysfunctional swallowing in the adult sample, such as anterior open bite, ogival (narrow) palate, and the presence of diastemas or localized calculus accumulation in the lower incisor area.
baseline

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

University of Roma La Sapienza

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

  • SA Miremadi, AA Khoshkhounejad, E. Mahdavi. La prevalenza della spinta linguale nei pazienti con malattia parodontale. Front Dent. 1;2(2):50-53.

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

November 1, 2024

Primary Completion (Actual)

September 1, 2025

Study Completion (Actual)

March 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

April 9, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 9, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

April 16, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

April 20, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 16, 2026

Last Verified

April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 4/2024

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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