The interface between dentistry and respiratory sleep disorders in children

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Dentistry
• Sleep Medicine
• Orthodontics

Background:

• Mouth breathing is a prevalent condition in children.
• It is associated with various health issues, impacting oral and systemic well-being.
• Understanding these associations is crucial for early diagnosis and intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the incidence of mouth breathing in children aged 6-9 years.
• To investigate the association between mouth breathing and sleep disorders, dental caries, malocclusion, and oral habits.
• To explore the correlation between mouth breathing and alterations in the stomatognathic system.

Main Methods:

• A clinical evaluation of the oral cavity was performed on 152 children (6-9 years old).
• The Obstructive Sleep Apnea-18 (OSA-18) questionnaire was administered to assess sleep disorder risk.
• Children were categorized into mouth breathers (MB) and nasal breathers (NB) for comparative analysis.

Main Results:

• 89 children presented with mouth breathing (MB), showing higher rates of malocclusion (45%), dental caries (56%), tooth loss (38%), bruxism (51%), and deleterious oral habits (52%) compared to nasal breathers (NB).
• A significant proportion of MB children (35) were at moderate to high risk for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSAS), with an average OSA-18 score of 57 compared to 40 for NB.
• Among children with moderate to high risk for OSAS, mouth breathing was highly prevalent, alongside increased occurrences of malocclusion, dental caries, tooth loss, bruxism, and digit/pacifier sucking.

Conclusions:

• High frequencies of respiratory disorders with sleep repercussions were observed in children who mouth breathe.
• The study reinforces a strong correlation between mouth breathing and detrimental changes in the stomatognathic system.
• Early identification and management of mouth breathing are essential for preventing associated oral and sleep health complications.