The effect of mouth breathing on dentofacial morphology of growing child.

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.