In a clinical-experimental study the influence of variations in the palatal shape of upper removable appliances upon tongue position during swallowing was investigated. During a clinical examination of 35 dental students displaying a physiological swallowing pattern, the tongue position during swallowing was recorded by palatography on an individually adapted upper plate. During swallowing with a roughened plate with an individual palatal shape and an imitated palatal papilla, the tongue position was significantly more posterior than with a highly polished, unstructured plate. The number of students displaying a visceral swallowing pattern was significantly smaller with a roughened plate with palatal folds and papilla then with a polished, smooth appliance. A roughened, individually shaped appliance with palatal folds and palatal papilla should therefore be used after myofunctional therapy and in cases where disturbance of tongue function by the appliance is not desirable.