EFFECTS OF MOUTH BREATHING ON FACIAL SKELETAL MORPHOLOGY

Lee, Min-Jeong; Kim, Jae-Gon; Yang, Yeon-Mi; Baik, Byeong-Ju

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

J Korean Acad Pediatr Dent. 2012;39(4): 339-347.

EFFECTS OF MOUTH BREATHING ON FACIAL SKELETAL MORPHOLOGY

Min-Jeong Lee, Jae-Gon Kim, Yeon-Mi Yang, Byeong-Ju Baik

Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Institute of Oral Bioscience, School of Dentistry, Chonbuk National University

Corresponding Author: Jae-Gon Kim ,Tel: 063-250-2128, Email: pedodent@chonbuk.ac.kr

Received: July 23, 2012; Accepted: November 14, 2012.

ABSTRACT

There still remains a controversial debate whether facial skeletal morphological differences exist between patients with nasal and mouth breathing habits. The aim of this study is to assess a relationship between over a period of time mouth breathing and facial skeletal morphology by analyzing lateral cephalometric radiographs of patients with nasal or mouth breathing habits. A total of 120 patients with skeletal class I, II, and III, who had undergone orthodontic diagnosis in department of pediatric dentistry - chonbuk national university, were chosen and their lateral cephalometric radiographs were analyzed. These patients were divided into six groups of 20, each with or without mouth breathing habits. The result of this study has not showed noticeable differences in cephalometric measurements between nasal and mouth breathing children of skeletal class I, II, and III (p > 0.05). However, when the groups were divided by age factor, mouth breathers of age 12 and older showed significant differences in cephalometrics such as decreased ramus height, maxillary retrusion, and clockwise pattern of mandible than children under age 12 (p < 0.05). In conclusion, a longer period of mouth-breathing habits in children displayed a greater chance of impaired facial growth.

Keywords: Mouth breathing | Nasal breathing | Airway space | Facial skeletal morphology | Lateral cephalometric radiographs