Facial and dental alterations according to the breathing pattern

There is controversy in the literature about possible interaction of the respiratorymode with the facial and dental structures.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to perform a longitudinal assessment of the changes infacial and dental structures in Angle’s Class II, division 1 malocclusionindividuals, divided according to the respiratory pattern (predominantly nasal ormouth), at two distinct moments of craniofacial development.

Material and Methods

Pogonium and nose measurements were made on the lateral cephalometric tracings(LS’-Pog’, LS’-B’, B’-Pog’, Pog’-PogTeg’, Line NB, Pog-NB, N''-Prn, Prn-NPog,N-Prn-Sn, Prn-Sn-LS). Dental measurements were made on the plaster models(distances between the tips of the canine cusps and the tips of mesial cusps ofthe first molars) of 40 individuals aged 10 to 14 years (moment 1) and 13 to 16years (moment 2), 23 being nose breathers (NB) and 17 being predominantly mouthbreathers (MB).

Results

The Student’s-t test and two-way ANOVA with repeated measures were applied toindicate differences between the mean values of these variables according to themoments and/or respiratory mode.

Conclusions

There were alterations in the facial measurements, without interference of thebreathing pattern. However, the breathing pattern influenced dentalalterations.