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The Effect of Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy on Neuromuscular Outcomes and Orofacial Function in Children and Adolescents in Estonia

15 settembre 2026 aggiornato da: Tartu University Hospital

The aim of the present study is to evaluate the effects of semi-standardized myofunctional therapy on the functional and neuromuscular characteristics of the orofacial system in children and adolescents aged 7-14 years using a longitudinal study design and a unified assessment protocol. Myofunctional therapy is a treatment method for functional disorders of the oral, lingual, and facial regions. The study approaches the orofacial system holistically by linking functional characteristics with anatomical structures, including palatal morphology and skeletal and dentoalveolar occlusal relationships, while also considering the impact of treatment adherence on outcomes.

Participants' orofacial functions and neuromuscular characteristics will be assessed before, during, and after therapy using standardized clinical measurements. The study will analyze the dynamics of changes, individual variability, and associations with craniofacial phenotype and treatment adherence.

Despite the widespread use of myofunctional therapy in Estonia, systematic evidence regarding therapy effectiveness, treatment dynamics, and factors influencing outcomes is limited, and unified assessment and intervention standards are lacking. The study aims to address this knowledge gap and support evidence-based implementation of myofunctional therapy, clinical decision-making, and healthcare resource planning.

Panoramica dello studio

Stato

Non ancora reclutamento

Condizioni

Intervento / Trattamento

Descrizione dettagliata

This is a prospective longitudinal clinical interventional study conducted at the Department of Paediatric Dentistry, Stomatology Clinic, Tartu University Hospital, Estonia. The study will include up to 80 children and adolescents aged 7-14 years who have been referred for orofacial myofunctional therapy and meet the study eligibility criteria.

Participants will receive semi-standardized orofacial myofunctional therapy as part of their clinical treatment. The study period for each participant is approximately nine months, including an eight-month therapy intervention with eight therapy sessions conducted at intervals of approximately 4-6 weeks.

Standardized clinical assessments are performed at baseline (T0, visit 1), during therapy (T4, visit 5), and after completion of the intervention (T8, visit 9). The assessments include neuromuscular and orofacial functional measurements. Treatment adherence is assessed throughout the intervention period using standardized questionnaires completed from the perspectives of the child, parent or legal representative, and therapist.

The study also evaluates craniofacial and dentoalveolar characteristics as exploratory factors in relation to treatment response.

Tipo di studio

Interventistico

Iscrizione (Stimato)

80

Fase

  • Non applicabile

Contatti e Sedi

Questa sezione fornisce i recapiti di coloro che conducono lo studio e informazioni su dove viene condotto lo studio.

Contatto studio

Luoghi di studio

      • Tartu, Estonia, 50406
        • Tartu University Hospital, Clinic of Dentistry
        • Contatto:

Criteri di partecipazione

I ricercatori cercano persone che corrispondano a una certa descrizione, chiamata criteri di ammissibilità. Alcuni esempi di questi criteri sono le condizioni generali di salute di una persona o trattamenti precedenti.

Criteri di ammissibilità

Età idonea allo studio

  • Bambino

Accetta volontari sani

No

Descrizione

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age 7-14 years at the time of enrollment.
  • Referred for orofacial myofunctional therapy.
  • Diagnosed with an orofacial myofunctional disorder.
  • Willingness to participate in therapy and assessments according to the study protocol.
  • Written informed consent from a parent or legal guardian for the child's participation in the study.
  • Written informed assent from the child to participate in the study.
  • Written consent from a parent or legal guardian to participate in the study by completing the questionnaire assessing their child's treatment adherence.
  • Sufficient proficiency in Estonian to participate in the study and understand the study procedures.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Structural craniofacial anomalies or syndromes (e.g., cleft lip and/or palate).
  • A medical condition that prevents safe participation in therapy or study assessments.

Piano di studio

Questa sezione fornisce i dettagli del piano di studio, compreso il modo in cui lo studio è progettato e ciò che lo studio sta misurando.

Come è strutturato lo studio?

Dettagli di progettazione

  • Scopo principale: Trattamento
  • Assegnazione: N / A
  • Modello interventistico: Assegnazione di gruppo singolo
  • Mascheramento: Nessuno (etichetta aperta)

Armi e interventi

Gruppo di partecipanti / Arm
Intervento / Trattamento
Sperimentale: Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy
Participants receive semi-standardized orofacial myofunctional therapy for 8 months, with a total of 8 therapy sessions.
Participants receive semi-standardized orofacial myofunctional therapy over an 8-month period, consisting of 8 therapy sessions at approximately 4-6-week intervals. Individually tailored exercises target tongue strength and mobility, lip strength and closure, swallowing pattern, tongue resting posture, nasal breathing and reduction of mouth breathing, and other orofacial functional patterns. Exercises are practiced under therapist supervision and performed at home once daily according to an individualized exercise program. Simple non-invasive aids, including a spatula and a button attached to a string, may be used during exercises. The intervention corresponds to routine clinical care and does not involve invasive or painful procedures.

Cosa sta misurando lo studio?

Misure di risultato primarie

Misura del risultato
Misura Descrizione
Lasso di tempo
Change in normalized sEMG Area of the mylohyoid region during swallowing
Lasso di tempo: Baseline (T0), 4 months (T4), and 8 months (T8)
Surface electromyographic (sEMG) activity of the bilateral mylohyoid region is recorded during swallowing. The sEMG Area during swallowing is normalized to the sEMG Area recorded during maximal tongue-palate pressure using the Iowa Oral Performance Instrument (IOPI) bulb. Normalized Area (%) is calculated as: sEMG Area during swallowing / sEMG Area during maximal tongue-palate pressure × 100. Change in normalized Area is assessed across the study period.
Baseline (T0), 4 months (T4), and 8 months (T8)

Misure di risultato secondarie

Misura del risultato
Misura Descrizione
Lasso di tempo
Change in tongue strength measured using the Iowa Oral Performance Instrument (IOPI)
Lasso di tempo: Baseline (T0), 4 months (T4), and 8 months (T8)
Maximum tongue strength is measured using the Iowa Oral Performance Instrument (IOPI) and expressed in kilopascals (kPa). Change in maximum tongue strength is assessed across the study period.
Baseline (T0), 4 months (T4), and 8 months (T8)
Change in lingual swallowing pressure measured using the Iowa Oral Performance Instrument (IOPI)
Lasso di tempo: Baseline (T0), 4 months (T4), and 8 months (T8)
Lingual swallowing pressure (LSP) is measured using the Iowa Oral Performance Instrument (IOPI) and expressed in kilopascals (kPa). Change in lingual swallowing pressure is assessed across the study period.
Baseline (T0), 4 months (T4), and 8 months (T8)
Change in lip strength measured using the Iowa Oral Performance Instrument (IOPI)
Lasso di tempo: Baseline (T0), 4 months (T4), and 8 months (T8)
Lip strength is measured using the Iowa Oral Performance Instrument (IOPI) and expressed in kilopascals (kPa). Change in lip strength is assessed across the study period.
Baseline (T0), 4 months (T4), and 8 months (T8)
Change in tongue-to-incisive papilla opening (TIP)
Lasso di tempo: Baseline (T0), 4 months (T4), and 8 months (T8)
Tongue-to-incisive papilla opening (TIP) is measured in millimeters (mm) with the tongue tip in contact with the incisive papilla. Change in TIP is assessed across the study period.
Baseline (T0), 4 months (T4), and 8 months (T8)
Change in lingual-palatal suction opening (LPS)
Lasso di tempo: Baseline (T0), 4 months (T4), and 8 months (T8)
Lingual-palatal suction opening (LPS) is measured in millimeters (mm) during lingual-palatal suction. Change in LPS is assessed across the study period.
Baseline (T0), 4 months (T4), and 8 months (T8)
Change in overall orofacial function assessed using a modified Orofacial Myofunctional Evaluation with Scores (OMES)
Lasso di tempo: Baseline (T0), 4 months (T4), and 8 months (T8)
Orofacial function is assessed using a modified Orofacial Myofunctional Evaluation with Scores (OMES). The modified total score ranges from 34 to 98 points, with higher scores indicating better orofacial function. Change in the modified total OMES score is assessed across the study period.
Baseline (T0), 4 months (T4), and 8 months (T8)
Change in sEMG mean frequency of the mylohyoid region during standardized solid-food swallowing
Lasso di tempo: Baseline (T0), 4 months (T4), and 8 months (T8)
Surface electromyographic (sEMG) mean frequency (MF) of the bilateral mylohyoid region is recorded during standardized swallowing of an approximately 5 g apple slice and expressed in hertz (Hz). One practice trial is performed before measurement, and the mean of two measurement trials is used for analysis. Change in MF is assessed across the study period.
Baseline (T0), 4 months (T4), and 8 months (T8)
Change in sEMG mean frequency of the mylohyoid region during swallowing
Lasso di tempo: Baseline (T0), 4 months (T4), and 8 months (T8)
Surface electromyographic (sEMG) mean frequency (MF) of the bilateral mylohyoid region is recorded during swallowing and expressed in hertz (Hz). Change in MF is assessed across the study period.
Baseline (T0), 4 months (T4), and 8 months (T8)
Change in sEMG mean power frequency of the mylohyoid region during swallowing
Lasso di tempo: Baseline (T0), 4 months (T4), and 8 months (T8)
Surface electromyographic (sEMG) mean power frequency (MPF) of the bilateral mylohyoid region is recorded during swallowing and expressed in hertz (Hz). Change in MPF is assessed across the study period.
Baseline (T0), 4 months (T4), and 8 months (T8)
Change in sEMG Area of the mylohyoid region during swallowing
Lasso di tempo: Baseline (T0), 4 months (T4), and 8 months (T8)
Surface electromyographic (sEMG) Area of the bilateral mylohyoid region is recorded during swallowing and expressed in microvolt-seconds (µV·s). Change in sEMG Area is assessed across the study period.
Baseline (T0), 4 months (T4), and 8 months (T8)
Change in sEMG mean frequency of the masseter region during swallowing
Lasso di tempo: Baseline (T0), 4 months (T4), and 8 months (T8)
Surface electromyographic (sEMG) mean frequency (MF) of the bilateral masseter region is recorded during swallowing and expressed in hertz (Hz). Change in MF is assessed across the study period.
Baseline (T0), 4 months (T4), and 8 months (T8)
Change in sEMG mean power frequency of the masseter region during swallowing
Lasso di tempo: Baseline (T0), 4 months (T4), and 8 months (T8)
Surface electromyographic (sEMG) mean power frequency (MPF) of the bilateral masseter region is recorded during swallowing and expressed in hertz (Hz). Change in MPF is assessed across the study period.
Baseline (T0), 4 months (T4), and 8 months (T8)
Change in sEMG Area of the masseter region during swallowing
Lasso di tempo: Baseline (T0), 4 months (T4), and 8 months (T8)
Surface electromyographic (sEMG) Area of the bilateral masseter region is recorded during swallowing and expressed in microvolt-seconds (µV·s). Change in sEMG Area is assessed across the study period.
Baseline (T0), 4 months (T4), and 8 months (T8)
Change in sEMG mean power frequency of the mylohyoid region during standardized solid-food swallowing
Lasso di tempo: Baseline (T0), 4 months (T4), and 8 months (T8)
Surface electromyographic (sEMG) mean power frequency (MPF) of the bilateral mylohyoid region is recorded during standardized swallowing of an approximately 5 g apple slice and expressed in hertz (Hz). One practice trial is performed before measurement, and the mean of two measurement trials is used for analysis. Change in MPF is assessed across the study period.
Baseline (T0), 4 months (T4), and 8 months (T8)
Change in sEMG Area of the mylohyoid region during standardized solid-food swallowing
Lasso di tempo: Baseline (T0), 4 months (T4), and 8 months (T8)
Surface electromyographic (sEMG) Area of the bilateral mylohyoid region is recorded during standardized swallowing of an approximately 5 g apple slice and expressed in microvolt-seconds (µV·s). One practice trial is performed before measurement, and the mean of two measurement trials is used for analysis. Change in sEMG Area is assessed across the study period.
Baseline (T0), 4 months (T4), and 8 months (T8)
Change in sEMG mean frequency of the masseter region during standardized solid-food swallowing
Lasso di tempo: Baseline (T0), 4 months (T4), and 8 months (T8)
Surface electromyographic (sEMG) mean frequency (MF) of the bilateral masseter region is recorded during standardized swallowing of an approximately 5 g apple slice and expressed in hertz (Hz). One practice trial is performed before measurement, and the mean of two measurement trials is used for analysis. Change in MF is assessed across the study period.
Baseline (T0), 4 months (T4), and 8 months (T8)
Change in sEMG mean power frequency of the masseter region during standardized solid-food swallowing
Lasso di tempo: Baseline (T0), 4 months (T4), and 8 months (T8)
Surface electromyographic (sEMG) mean power frequency (MPF) of the bilateral masseter region is recorded during standardized swallowing of an approximately 5 g apple slice and expressed in hertz (Hz). One practice trial is performed before measurement, and the mean of two measurement trials is used for analysis. Change in MPF is assessed across the study period.
Baseline (T0), 4 months (T4), and 8 months (T8)
Change in sEMG Area of the masseter region during standardized solid-food swallowing
Lasso di tempo: Baseline (T0), 4 months (T4), and 8 months (T8)
Surface electromyographic (sEMG) Area of the bilateral masseter region is recorded during standardized swallowing of an approximately 5 g apple slice and expressed in microvolt-seconds (µV·s). One practice trial is performed before measurement, and the mean of two measurement trials is used for analysis. Change in sEMG Area is assessed across the study period.
Baseline (T0), 4 months (T4), and 8 months (T8)

Collaboratori e investigatori

Qui è dove troverai le persone e le organizzazioni coinvolte in questo studio.

Sponsor

Collaboratori

Investigatori

  • Cattedra di studio: Triin Jagomägi, PhD, University of Tartu

Studiare le date dei record

Queste date tengono traccia dell'avanzamento della registrazione dello studio e dell'invio dei risultati di sintesi a ClinicalTrials.gov. I record degli studi e i risultati riportati vengono esaminati dalla National Library of Medicine (NLM) per assicurarsi che soddisfino specifici standard di controllo della qualità prima di essere pubblicati sul sito Web pubblico.

Studia le date principali

Inizio studio (Stimato)

14 settembre 2026

Completamento primario (Stimato)

31 marzo 2028

Completamento dello studio (Stimato)

31 marzo 2028

Date di iscrizione allo studio

Primo inviato

8 settembre 2026

Primo inviato che soddisfa i criteri di controllo qualità

15 settembre 2026

Primo Inserito (Effettivo)

18 settembre 2026

Aggiornamenti dei record di studio

Ultimo aggiornamento pubblicato (Effettivo)

18 settembre 2026

Ultimo aggiornamento inviato che soddisfa i criteri QC

15 settembre 2026

Ultimo verificato

1 settembre 2026

Maggiori informazioni

Termini relativi a questo studio

Altri numeri di identificazione dello studio

  • TEET295

Piano per i dati dei singoli partecipanti (IPD)

Hai intenzione di condividere i dati dei singoli partecipanti (IPD)?

NO

Descrizione del piano IPD

Individual participant data will not be shared with other researchers. Study data are processed in pseudonymized form in accordance with the approved study protocol and applicable data protection requirements. Study results will be reported only in aggregated and anonymized form.

Informazioni su farmaci e dispositivi, documenti di studio

Studia un prodotto farmaceutico regolamentato dalla FDA degli Stati Uniti

No

Studia un dispositivo regolamentato dalla FDA degli Stati Uniti

No

Queste informazioni sono state recuperate direttamente dal sito web clinicaltrials.gov senza alcuna modifica. In caso di richieste di modifica, rimozione o aggiornamento dei dettagli dello studio, contattare register@clinicaltrials.gov. Non appena verrà implementata una modifica su clinicaltrials.gov, questa verrà aggiornata automaticamente anche sul nostro sito web .