Real time balanced turbo field echo Cine-MRI in the analysis of deglutition events and transit times.

Investigation of swallowing is an important part of oral diagnosis. It usually plays a role in the aetiology of some orofacial deformities and open-bite as well as in the relapse of treated open-bite patients. In recent years, the movements of the anatomical structures that participate in deglutition have been investigated by several methods such as cineradiography, electromyography, electropalatography, electromagnetic articulography and ultrasonography. However, all these techniques have various disadvantages. Recently, dynamic magnetic resonance imaging has become available in the evaluation of swallowing function. In this study we intended to present this new technique to the dental literature and aimed to obtain dynamic images of the deglutition process. We also compared the timing of events in subjects with anterior open-bite and normal overbite during swallowing 10 mL water.