The correlation between dento-maxillary anomalies and breathing in adults. Literary review.

Abstract

One of the causes of dentomaxillary anomalies (MADs) in the development of the dentomaxillary apparatus in adulthood is oral respiration with or without nasal breathing. Adults with untreated MAD complain of nasal breathing disorders such as hypopnea (snoring) or sleep apnea (loud snoring). The purpose of the study was to review the literature on the relationship between dentomaxillary anomalies and breathing in adult patients. In this respect, an electronic search in PubMed (MedLine) and Google Scholar was performed. The studies until 20.01.2023 have been analyzed. Thus, 221 sources have been identified of which 21 have been included in the literature review. The mean age of patients in the examined articles constituted 35 years ±9.5 years. The link between MAD and breathing process has been described in 17 articles. The low transverse dimension of the upper jaw leads to nasal cavity obstruction, which can lead to the impairment of the air flow to the lungs. Patients with undiagnosed MAD and upper respiratory tract obstruction may develop OSAS later in life, in those with pre-existing OSAS the condition worsens after the age of 65. The literature describes a direct relationship between hypopnea or obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) and hypodevelopment of the lower jaw in the sagittal plane and/or the upper jaw in the transverse plane.