Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 23, 2025
Author Spotlight: 3D Movement Assessment of Maxillary Posterior Teeth in Clear Aligner Treatment
Published on: February 23, 2024
Mouth breathing and orthodontic intervention: Does the evidence support keeping our mouths shut?
1Center for Advanced Dental Education, Saint Louis University, St Louis, Mo; Dental School, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia; Private practice, West Australian Orthodontics, Midland, Western Australia, Australia.
Abstract:
It is believed that mouth breathing, particularly during early childhood, is associated with the development of various unfavorable craniofacial characteristics such as mandibular retrognathia, narrow high arch palates and alar bases, lip incompetence, increased vertical facial height, and mandibular plane angles. Today, there is significant debate and confusion pertaining to the role of orthodontists in identifying and managing mouth breathing, especially for young patients as early as 3 years old. Using the historical and contemporary evidence-based literature along with an ethical and pragmatic clinical perspective, the role of mouth breathing and early orthodontic intervention is put into perspective in this paper.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Assessment of Airway, Skin Color, and Use of Accessory Muscles
Introduction
The initial evaluation of a patient's respiratory system...
01:21Sleep Apnea
The condition is more prevalent among...
01:21Mechanism of Breathing III: The Accessory Muscles
The respiratory system is a complex network that relies on primary respiratory muscles like the diaphragm, but also involves accessory muscles to enhance lung expansion and airflow during both inhalation and exhalation.
Enhancing Inhalation with Accessory Muscles:
Accessory muscles such as the sternocleidomastoid, scalene, intercostal, and abdominal muscles are crucial when additional respiratory effort is required, such as during deep...
01:15Teeth
In the bud stage, the tooth germ (an aggregation of cells) starts to form in the developing jawbone. During the cap stage, the tooth germ differentiates into enamel organ, dental papilla, and dental sac, which will later develop into the tooth's enamel, dentin...