During the growth period, mouth breathing caused by upper airway obstruction can adversely affect normal development of children's maxillofacial region, manifesting various types of growth patterns and facial appearance. Therefore, to further understand the influence of different obstructive parts of upper airway on maxillofacial growth patterns, this knowledge would be helpful for clinicians in guiding the normal development of children's maxillofacial region. This review describes the common causes of oral breathing, and analyzes the maxillofacial development characteristics of children with different upper airway stenosis anatomical planes and various age stages. In order to provide a reference frame basis for the intervention timing, program formulation and the maintenance of the post-operative efficacy of children with oral breathing.
Humans ; Maxillofacial Development ; Child ; Mouth Breathing/physiopathology* ; Airway Obstruction

OBJECTIVETo investigate the correlation between airflow ratio and craniofacial, airway and dental morphology.

METHODSSeventy-two subjects aged 11 to 14 years were selected. The airflow ratio was measured by the system for the simultaneous measurement of oral and nasal respiration. Eighty-six variables of craniofacial, airway and dental morphology were acquired based on cephalometric films and models, from which 16 significant variables were selected. Multiple regression analysis (backward) and linear regression analysis were carried out in order to acquire morphological variables that had closer correlation with the airflow ratio.

RESULTSFour variables were found to have closer correlated association with the airflow ratio (P < 0.05), which were ANS-Me/N-Me, Ar-Go-Me, P-T, SHJK orderly and the coefficients were 3.359, 0.012, -0.013 and -0.021, respectively.

CONCLUSIONSCraniofacial morphology was related to the respiratory mode.

Adolescent ; Cephalometry ; Child ; Facial Bones ; anatomy & histology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Malocclusion ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Mouth ; anatomy & histology ; Mouth Breathing ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Pharynx ; anatomy & histology ; Radiography ; Tooth ; anatomy & histology

OBJECTIVEThe purpose of this study was to compare the difference of craniofacial morphology between oral and nasal breathing children, and discover the relationship between respiratory mode and craniofacial morphology.

METHODSUsing the system for the simultaneous measurement of oral and nasal respiration, 34 oral breathing children and 34 nasal breathing children aged from 11 to 14 years were selected.

RESULTSCompared with the nasal-breathing children, the oral-breathing children showed apparently vertical growth pattern. The mandibuler plane Angle of oral breathing children is 39.3, which is significant greater than that of nasal breathing children (P < 0.01). The jans, the oral-breathing children had shorter mandibular body, larger gonion angle, retrusive chin and face (P < 0.05). On the other hand, in the sagittal direction, the oral breathing children may display all kinds of skeletal facial types. There is no significant difference between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONSOral breathing is one of the factors related to the vertical over-development.

Adolescent ; Child ; Craniofacial Abnormalities ; diagnostic imaging ; Facial Bones ; diagnostic imaging ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mandible ; diagnostic imaging ; Mouth Breathing ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Nose ; Radiography ; Respiration ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Skull ; diagnostic imaging ; Statistics as Topic