Abstract: Objective: To study the tongue charecteristics of different types of anterior occlusion, to compare the difference in intercuspal occlusion and tongue’s natural resting position. Methods: Subjects with different types of anterior malocclusion were selected, and lateral cephalometric films were taken by tongue-dorsum barium sulfate filming method, in order to record the position of the body of tongue and to determine features in the alteration of tongue position. Results: The body of tongue except the root subsided evenly from intercuspal position(ICP) to tongue’s natural resting position (TNRP); in deep overbite group, the amount of tongue subsiding in the middle of tongue was most obvious, followed by the front of tongue; in deep overjet group, obvious subsiding in the front and middle of tongue was observed; significant subsiding was demonstrated in the middle and back in anterior crossbite group; the amount of subsiding in open bite group was least significant. Conclusion: Differential characteristics were observed in different types of occlusion, which may be correlated with the occlusion itself.

Key words: Tongue, Malocclusion, Lateral cephalometric film