TONSIL HYPERTROPHY. THEIR EFFECTS ON MASTICATION AND SWALLOWING

Abstract

Morphological alterations of the palatine tonsils can cause alterations in mastication. Palatine tonsil enlargement could cause dysfunctional swallowing, as an adaptive mechanism of the tongue due to decreased retrolingual space, preventing the backward movement of the tongue during swallowing and altering chewing and crushing and/or swallowing of food without proper formation of the food bolus.

Objective:
Assess the degree of tonsil hypertrophy and its association with swallowing and mastication, considering speed and frequency of mastication in 10 to 15 year-old children attending the Comprehensive Dental Clinic of the Department of Pediatric Dentistry.

Material and Methods:
A retrospective observational comparative cross-sectional study was performed on a group of children. The speech therapists assessed mastication, swallowing and palatine tonsils. Results were statistically analyzed.

Results:
The study sample included 276 patients. The group II with tonsillar hypertrophy comprised 166 patients; 102 showed dysfunctional swallowing, 71 alterations in the speed and 66 in the frequency of mastication. The group with no tonsillar hypertrophy and degree I comprised 110 patients; 59 exhibited dysfunctional swallowing, 26 alterations in the speed of mastication and 18 alterations in the frequency of mastication.

Conclusions:
The group of patients with tonsil hypertrophy exhibited significant alteration in frequency and speed of mastication.