Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2010 Nov-Dec;76(6):709-12.
doi: 10.1590/S1808-86942010000600007.

Demineralization of teeth in mouth-breathing patients undergoing maxillary expansion

Silvia Fuerte Bakor  1 , Julio César Motta Pereira, Silvana Frascino, Thereza Christinna Cellos Gonçalves Pinheiro Ladalardo, Shirley Shizue Nagata Pignatari, Luc Louis Maurice Weckx
Affiliations

Demineralization of teeth in mouth-breathing patients undergoing maxillary expansion

Silvia Fuerte Bakor et al. Braz J Otorhinolaryngol. 2010 Nov-Dec.

Abstract

Mouth breathing may cause deformities on the dental arch and be a risk factor for caries and periodontal disease; fixed orthodontic appliances compound the problem.

Aim: to evaluate mineralization of tooth enamel and the oral cariogenic microbiota of mouth breathers that are using maxillary expanders.

Material and method: a prospective study of 20 mouth-breathing patients with maxillary atresia, aged from 09 to 13 years. Enamel mineralization was measured using a fluorescence technique, before installing the expander and after its removal. The cariogenic microbiota was evaluated by the No Caries®. The t test (p<0.05) was applied for the statistical analysis, and the oral microbiota was analyzed by incidence.

Results: there was a statistically significant difference in the enamel mineralization level after maxillary expansion; the mean value was 3.08. The colorimetric test showed that the caries development potential was reduced in 45%, increased in 15%, and unaltered in 40% after maxillary expander use.

Conclusion: there was a statistically significant difference in enamel mineralization after maxillary expansion; this difference was within the clinically normal range; the cariogenic potential increased in a small number of patients during orthodontic treatment.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Chart 1
Chart 1
Behavior of the sample before and after maxillary dysjunction.
Chart 2
Chart 2
Potential of dental caries before and after the maxillary dysjunction appliance.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Di Francesco RC, Passerotii G, Paulucci B, Miniti A. Respiração oral na criança: repercussões diferentes de acordo com o diagnóstico. Rev Bras Otorrinolaringol. 2004;70(5):665–670.
    1. Ricketts RM. Respiratory obstruction syndrome. Am J Orthod. 1968;54(7):495–507. - PubMed
    1. Wagaiyu EG, Ashley FP. Mouthbreathing, lip seal and upper lip coverage and their relationship with gingival inflammation in 11-14 year-old schoolchildren. J Clin Periodontol. 1991;18(9):698–702. - PubMed
    1. Nascimento Filho E, Mayer MPA, Pontes PAL, Pignatari ACC, Weckx LLM. A respiração bucal é fator de risco para cárie e gengivite. Rev Bras Alergia Imunopatol. 2003;26(6):243–249.
    1. Carranza FA, Hogan EL. In: Carranza's clinical periodontology. 9th. Newman M, Takei HH, editors. Saunders; Philadelphia: 2002. Gengival enlargment; pp. 279–296.

LinkOut - more resources