Abstract
Background: Rapid maxillary expansion is a common treatment for posterior cross-bites that has also shown to improve nasal breathing.Methods: Thirteen oral breather patients with posterior cross-bite were studied. Treatment consisted in rapid maxillary expansion with a fully bonded appliance including a bite-block and a hyrax expansion screw. Before and after treatment, CT scans and active anterior rhinomanometry were performed to each patient. Data was analyzed with the non-parametric Wilcoxon statistical test and correlation between palatal expansion and increase of airflow in each patient was assessed.Results: The CT scan showed that transversal dimensions were significantly increased (P<0.001) in most areas after treatment, considering the right and left side separately. Rhinomanometry also showed statistical differences (P<0.001) in all parameters studied when compared before and after treatment. Positive correlation was observed between palatal expansion and increase of airflow.Conclusions: All patients improved oral breathing habit clinically and there is also statistical evidence that the nasal cavity increased its transversal dimensions, measured by CT scan and that patients increased their airflow through the nasal cavity, measured by rhinomanometry.
Highlights
Normal breathing involves adequate utilization of the nasopharyngeal tract
Our study aimed to evaluate the nasal cavity anatomical structures by Computerized tomography (CT) scan and the respiratory function by active anterior rhinomanometry in patients with oral breathing and posterior cross-bite before and after Rapid maxillary expansion (RME) treatment
Before- and after-treatment CT scans and active anterior rhinomanometry were performed on each patient
Summary
Normal breathing involves adequate utilization of the nasopharyngeal tract. The air must pass freely and fluently through the nostrils with minimal resistance [1]. Unusual enlargement of anatomical structures in this area, such as adenoids, hypertrophy of nasal turbinates or tonsils, nasal injury, nasal septum deviation, neoplasms, congenital nasal deformities, foreign bodies, polyps, or allergic rhinitis, can obstruct the airflow within the nasorespiratory channel [1,2,3,4,5,6]. This obstruction can impair nasal breathing, resulting in an oral mode of respiration [1]. Craniofacial anomalies typically include anterior head posture, reduced development of the middle third of the face, increased anterior face height, steep mandibular
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