The effect of mouth breathing on dentofacial morphology of growing child

Abstract

Background: The oral mode of respiration cause postural adaptations of structures in the head and neck region producing the effect on the positional relationship of the jaws.

Aim: The aim of this study is to verify the skeletal relationship of mouth and nose breathing child.

Study design: A cross sectional study was performed to assess the association of changed mode of respiration with dentofacial growth.

Materials and methods: One hundred children among which 54 were mouth breathers and 46 were nasal breathers of 6-12 years of age were submitted to clinical examination and cephalometric radiographical analysis. Statistical analysis : Chi-square test for proportions and independent sample's "t" test for parametric data is used.

Result: The mean values of N-Me (P<0.001) ANS-Me (P<0.001) and SN-GoGn (P<0.001) for mouth breathers is significantly higher. ArGo-GoMe (P=0.003) and (P<0.011) for 6-9 and 9-12 years age group, respectively, were significantly low in nasal breathers group.

Conclusions: Changed mode of respiration was associated with increased facial height, mandibular plane angle and gonial angle.