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Breathing mode influence in craniofacial development

Fernanda Campos Rosetti Lessa1, Carla Enoki, Murilo Fernandes Neuppmann Feres

  • 1School of Dental Sciences, Ribeirão Preto-USP.

Brazilian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology
|February 1, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Mouth breathing in children is linked to increased mandibular inclination and vertical facial growth, impacting craniofacial development. This study analyzed facial proportions in children using cephalometric analysis.

Area of Science:

  • Dentistry and Orthodontics
  • Pediatric Health
  • Craniofacial Development

Background:

  • Mouth breathing is a common condition in children.
  • Breathing patterns can influence craniofacial morphology.
  • Cephalometric analysis is a key tool for evaluating facial proportions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare facial proportions between children who mouth breathe and those who are nasal breathers.
  • To investigate the relationship between breathing mode and craniofacial development using cephalometric analysis.

Main Methods:

  • A transversal cohort study involving 60 children aged 6-10 years.
  • Patients were classified into mouth-breathing and nasal-breathing groups based on otorhinolaryngological evaluation.
  • Standard lateral cephalometric radiographs were analyzed for specific facial proportion measurements and indexes.

Main Results:

  • Mouth breathers exhibited a statistically significant higher mandibular plane inclination (SN.GoGn) compared to nasal breathers.
  • Mouth breathers showed a smaller posterior facial height relative to anterior facial height (PFH-AFH ratio).
  • The upper facial height was found to be smaller than the lower facial height (UFH-LFH ratio) in mouth-breathing children.

Conclusions:

  • Mouth breathing in children is associated with increased mandibular inclination and a tendency towards vertical facial growth.
  • These craniofacial changes underscore the significant influence of breathing patterns on development.
  • Findings support the hypothesis that mouth breathing impacts craniofacial structure in pediatric patients.
Abstract

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