Association of sleep disturbances and craniofacial characteristics in children with class ii malocclusion: An evaluative study.

BACKGROUND

Behaviour problems, poor academic performance and failure to thrive are some of the potential sequelae of sleep problems in children. Hence, there is a need to evaluate the prevalence of sleep problems and significant associations in children with skeletal class II malocclusion with mandibular retrognathism.

AIMS: This study aimed to determine associations if any between sleep practices and problems and craniofacial characteristics in children with skeletal class II malocclusion with mandibular deficiency.

SETTINGS AND

DESIGN

A cross-sectional study was conducted among a group of children with skeletal class II malocclusion with mandibular retrognathism.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Fifty children aged 8-14 years with skeletal class II with mandibular retrognathism and who required myofunctional therapy were selected. A validated sleep questionnaire assessed the sleep practices and problems. A detailed clinical examination including tonsils and evaluation for mouth breathing was performed. A lateral cephalogram recorded specific linear, angular variables as well as upper and lower pharyngeal airway space.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Descriptive statistics, frequency, and percentages were calculated, and the Chi-square test was used.

RESULTS

All children reported at least one sleep problem, with snoring reported by 76% of the children. Forty-two percent of the children showed a decreased upper airway, whereas 80% showed a decreased lower airway. Significant associations were seen between SN-MP and noisy breathing, upper airway, and snoring with a P value of 0.017. We also found significant associations between upper and lower airway and sleep positions with a P value of 0.021 and 0.005, respectively.

CONCLUSION

All the children exhibited at least one sleep problem. There was a strong association of certain sleep practices and sleep problems with cephalometric variables.