Abstract
Objective: To evaluate the effects of mouth breathing on craniofacial and dentofacial development during childhood in comparison to nasal breathing in malocclusion patients.Materials & Method: A retrospective study done at SOA University. Cephalometric parameters and clinical variables of 90 pediatric patients who had undergone orthodontic treatment were reviewed. Study group included 40 pediatric patients who suffered from signs and symptoms of nasal obstruction, and control group included 50 patients who were normal nasal breathers. Dental and craniofacial parameters were compared between nasal breathers and mouth breathers using clinical and cephalometric records.Result: The mouth breathers had backward and downward rotation of mandible with increased overjet, increased mandibular plane angle, higher palatal plane, and constriction of upper and lower arches at the level of cuspids and first molars when compared with nasal breathers group. The prevalence of posterior cross bite was observed greater in mouth breathers group (40%) than the nose breathers (20%) (p =0.006). Abnormal lip-to-tongue anterior oral seal was seen more in the mouth breathers group (55%) than in nose breathers group (25%) (p = 0.05).Conclusion: Naso-respiratory obstruction with mouth breathing during growth periods in children has a greater tendency for clockwise rotation of growing mandible, with an irregular increase in anterior lower vertical face height and decreased posterior facial height.
Highlights
The relationship between nasal obstruction and craniofacial growth is highly debatable in literature.[1]
Naso-respiratory obstruction with mouth breathing during growth periods in children has a greater tendency for clockwise rotation of growing mandible, with an irregular increase in anterior lower vertical face height and decreased posterior facial height
Chronic nasal obstruction leads to mouth breathing, resulting in an anterior or lower position of the tongue, incompetent lips, lowered position of the mandible, and decreased orofacial muscle tonicity to compensate for decreased nasal airflow and facilitate respiration.[5,6,7,8]
Summary
The relationship between nasal obstruction and craniofacial growth is highly debatable in literature.[1]. This theory is entirely based on the principle that normal nasal respiratory activity has an impact on the development of craniofacial structures, favoring harmonious growth and development by interacting with mastication and swallowing along with other components of head and neck region.[3,4] Chronic nasal obstruction leads to mouth breathing, resulting in an anterior or lower position of the tongue, incompetent lips, lowered position of the mandible, and decreased orofacial muscle tonicity to compensate for decreased nasal airflow and facilitate respiration.[5,6,7,8] there is disharmony in growth and development of orofacial structures, narrowing of maxilla, underdevelopment of mandible, alterations in the position of head in relation to the neck, protrusion of maxillary incisors, and distal position of mandible in relation to maxilla.[9]
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