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An exercise to restore normal lip function
AN EXERCISE
TO RESTORE
NORMAL
LIP FUNCTION
A. J. LA GROW, D.D.S., OAK PARK, Im.
V and tion. lips, lip,
ARIOUS lip exercises have been given patients by orthodontists to improve the tone of the lips with various results. It is the overactive lower lip the hypertoned mentalis muscles, however, that are most baffling of correcPatients with a short hypotoned upper lip will, when asked to close the contract the mentalis muscles, as well as the caninus muscles. The upper in this type of patient, takes very little part in the act of closing. The upper
Fig.
Fig.
1.
2.
lip, therefore, does not become developed, and there is a loss of normal pressure on the maxillary incisors. Even more harmful than this is the abnormal pressure of the mentalis muscles on the mandibular incisors and cuspids. Although the mentalis muscles are not inserted into the orbicularis oris, they push the lower lip up, in this type of individual. The right and left eaninus muscles, acting together, normally lift the lower lip. The maxillary incisors, in some cases, are tilted forward by the action of the lower lip aided by the mentalis muscles. I have used several different lip exercises in my practice, but the exercise I am here describing, I believe, fulfills all the requirements. These requirements are (1) to lengthen the upper lip, (2) to restore tone and function to the lips, (3) to bring about a normal closure of t,he lips in which the mentalis muscles dontists,
Clinic
presented at the Thirty-Fifth Chicago, April, 1937.
Annual 15s
Meeting
of
the
American
Society
of Ortho-
An Exewise
to Restore Nomul
Lip Function
do not take part, (4) to produce a relaxed condition of the mentalis muscles. I call this exercise the depressor lip exercise because it is these muscles which are activated in this exercise. They are the right and left triangularis and the right and left quadratus labii inferioris. The triangularis draws the upper lip down and the quadrates labii inferioris draws the lower lip down. To perform the exercise, t,he lips are closed and the depressor muscles are contracted. This brings both lips downward tog&her. The orbicularis oris is exercised at the same time. The mentalis muscles arc compelled to inactivity during the time When this exercise is carried t,his exercise is being done and are overpowered. out with regularity, the lips finally close normally without any abnormal activity thorof the mentalis. It is highly important, however, for the orthodontist
Fi,y.
2.
Fig.
!.
Pi- 0.
r,.
onghly to understand this exercise before attempting to teach it to a patient. In Fig. 5 please note that the mentalis region is smooth, indicating that in most these muscles are not contracting. The teeth should be closed hccause, individuals, the platgsma muscles contract at, the same time, which has a tendency to pull the mandible backward. Figs. 1 and 2 are photographs of a patient who presented with a short upper lip which did not function. The face of the same patient is shown in Figs. 3 and 4 three years later. ‘I’he improvement in the facial lines was brought about by an improvement in the occlusion, an improvement in the length of the upper lip, an improvement in the tone and function of the lips, and by a more relaxed condition I)f the mentalis muscles. Fig. 5 shows the patient performing the exercise.
TO RESTORE
NORMAL
LIP FUNCTION
A. J. LA GROW, D.D.S., OAK PARK, Im.
V and tion. lips, lip,
ARIOUS lip exercises have been given patients by orthodontists to improve the tone of the lips with various results. It is the overactive lower lip the hypertoned mentalis muscles, however, that are most baffling of correcPatients with a short hypotoned upper lip will, when asked to close the contract the mentalis muscles, as well as the caninus muscles. The upper in this type of patient, takes very little part in the act of closing. The upper
Fig.
Fig.
1.
2.
lip, therefore, does not become developed, and there is a loss of normal pressure on the maxillary incisors. Even more harmful than this is the abnormal pressure of the mentalis muscles on the mandibular incisors and cuspids. Although the mentalis muscles are not inserted into the orbicularis oris, they push the lower lip up, in this type of individual. The right and left eaninus muscles, acting together, normally lift the lower lip. The maxillary incisors, in some cases, are tilted forward by the action of the lower lip aided by the mentalis muscles. I have used several different lip exercises in my practice, but the exercise I am here describing, I believe, fulfills all the requirements. These requirements are (1) to lengthen the upper lip, (2) to restore tone and function to the lips, (3) to bring about a normal closure of t,he lips in which the mentalis muscles dontists,
Clinic
presented at the Thirty-Fifth Chicago, April, 1937.
Annual 15s
Meeting
of
the
American
Society
of Ortho-
An Exewise
to Restore Nomul
Lip Function
do not take part, (4) to produce a relaxed condition of the mentalis muscles. I call this exercise the depressor lip exercise because it is these muscles which are activated in this exercise. They are the right and left triangularis and the right and left quadratus labii inferioris. The triangularis draws the upper lip down and the quadrates labii inferioris draws the lower lip down. To perform the exercise, t,he lips are closed and the depressor muscles are contracted. This brings both lips downward tog&her. The orbicularis oris is exercised at the same time. The mentalis muscles arc compelled to inactivity during the time When this exercise is carried t,his exercise is being done and are overpowered. out with regularity, the lips finally close normally without any abnormal activity thorof the mentalis. It is highly important, however, for the orthodontist
Fi,y.
2.
Fig.
!.
Pi- 0.
r,.
onghly to understand this exercise before attempting to teach it to a patient. In Fig. 5 please note that the mentalis region is smooth, indicating that in most these muscles are not contracting. The teeth should be closed hccause, individuals, the platgsma muscles contract at, the same time, which has a tendency to pull the mandible backward. Figs. 1 and 2 are photographs of a patient who presented with a short upper lip which did not function. The face of the same patient is shown in Figs. 3 and 4 three years later. ‘I’he improvement in the facial lines was brought about by an improvement in the occlusion, an improvement in the length of the upper lip, an improvement in the tone and function of the lips, and by a more relaxed condition I)f the mentalis muscles. Fig. 5 shows the patient performing the exercise.