[Correlation between oral airflow ratio and craniofacial, airway and dental morphology].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the correlation between airflow ratio and craniofacial, airway and dental morphology.

METHODS

Seventy-two subjects aged 11 to 14 years were selected. The airflow ratio was measured by the system for the simultaneous measurement of oral and nasal respiration. Eighty-six variables of craniofacial, airway and dental morphology were acquired based on cephalometric films and models, from which 16 significant variables were selected. Multiple regression analysis (backward) and linear regression analysis were carried out in order to acquire morphological variables that had closer correlation with the airflow ratio.

RESULTS

Four variables were found to have closer correlated association with the airflow ratio (P < 0.05), which were ANS-Me/N-Me, Ar-Go-Me, P-T, SHJK orderly and the coefficients were 3.359, 0.012, -0.013 and -0.021, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Craniofacial morphology was related to the respiratory mode.