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Is the growth pattern in mouth breathers comparable with the counterclockwise mandibular rotation of nasal breathers?

Letícia Paiva Franco1, Bernardo Quiroga Souki, Tatiana Bahia J Pereira

  • 1Outpatient Clinic for Mouth-Breathers, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.

American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics : Official Publication of the American Association of Orthodontists, Its Constituent Societies, and the American Board of Orthodontics
|September 3, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Mouth-breathing children exhibit a longer face pattern and reduced mandibular rotation and remodeling compared to nasal breathers. Despite expectations, both groups showed counterclockwise rotation, though mouth breathers had significantly less.

Area of Science:

  • Orthodontics
  • Pediatric Dentistry
  • Craniofacial Development

Background:

  • Mouth breathing in children is associated with altered craniofacial morphology.
  • Understanding its impact on mandibular dynamics is crucial for early intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare mandibular rotation and angular remodeling in children with mouth breathing versus nasal breathing.
  • To analyze cephalometric changes over a one-year period.

Main Methods:

  • Longitudinal study of 55 mouth-breathing and 55 nasal-breathing children.
  • Cephalometric analysis at baseline and after 1 year to measure true and apparent mandibular rotation and angular remodeling.
  • Statistical significance set at 5%.

Main Results:

  • Mouth-breathing children presented a longer face (hyperdivergent) cephalometric pattern.
  • No significant differences in cranial deflection or vertical growth pattern changes were observed between groups.
  • Mouth breathers showed significantly lower yearly rates of counterclockwise true rotation and angular remodeling compared to nasal breathers.

Conclusions:

  • Mouth-breathing children exhibit a hyperdivergent pattern, with counterclockwise true mandibular and apparent rotations observed on average.
  • While apparent rotations were similar, mouth breathers demonstrated less true rotation and angular remodeling than nasal breathers.
  • These findings highlight distinct mandibular developmental trajectories influenced by breathing patterns.
Abstract

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