[Orocraniofacial changes in young subjects with cystic fibrosis]

Cystic Fibrosis is a lethal genetic disorder affecting the respiratory, gastro intestinal, exocrine end reproductive systems. From the orthodontic point of view, respiratory changes are of great interest. In fact, cephalometric tracings and cast analysis on 20 subjects with Cystic Fibrosis have revealed changes at the orofacial structures, strictly related to the respiratory dysfunctions. They can be summarized as: mesial shifting of the maxilla, dimensional increase of the mandibular body, ovoidal upper arch with a deeper palatal vault, tapering or trapezoidal lower arch. Even if causes can be hardly distinguished from effects, the role of the juvenile oral breathing in these cases seems to be any way undeniable with statistically significant results.