Facial and dental alterations according to the breathing pattern

There is controversy in the literature about possible interaction of the respiratory mode with the facial and dental structures. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to perform a longitudinal assessment of the changes in facial and dental structures in Angle's Class II, division 1 malocclusion individuals, divided according to the respiratory pattern (predominantly nasal or mouth), 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 of the first molars) of 40 individuals aged 10 to 14 years (moment 1) and 13 to 16 years (moment 2), 23 being nose breathers (NB) and 17 being predominantly mouth breathers (MB). RESULTS: The Student's-t test and two-way ANOVA with repeated measures were applied to indicate differences between the mean values of these variables according to the moments and/or respiratory mode. CONCLUSIONS: There were alterations in the facial measurements, without interference of the breathing pattern. However, the breathing pattern infuenced dental alterations

A Three Dimensional Study of Upper Airway in Adult Skeletal Class II Patients with Different Vertical Growth Patterns

OBJECTIVE: The study was performed to compare the 3D pharyngeal airway dimensions in adult skeletal Class II patients with different vertical growth patterns (low, normal, and high angle) and to investigate whether the upper airway dimensions of untreated skeletal Class II adults were affected by vertical skeletal variables. METHODS: Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) records of 64 untreated adult skeletal Class II patients (34 male and 30 female) were collected to evaluate the pharyngeal airway dimensions. Subjects were divided into three subgroups according to the GoGn-SN angle (low angle, normal angle or high angle). All subgroups were matched for sex. ANOVA and SNK-q tests were used to identify differences within and among groups (p<0.05). Coefficient of product-moment correlation (Pearson correlation coefficient) was used to analyze the association between pharyngeal airway dimensions and vertical growth patterns. RESULTS: The results showed that pharyngeal airway measurements were statistically significantly less (p<0.05) in high angle group as compared to normal angle or low angle group. CONCLUSIONS: Adult skeletal Class II subjects with vertical growth patterns have significantly narrower pharyngeal airways than those with normal or horizontal growth patterns, confirming an association between pharyngeal airway measurements and a vertical skeletal pattern

Burning mouth syndrome: clinical presentation, diagnosis and treatment

Burning mouth syndrome is an oral dysaesthesia presenting as a burning sensation of the tongue and less frequently other oral and peri-oral sites. There may be other coincident symptoms and signs, but the defining feature is the absence of any obvious organic cause. Because of this the condition frequently remains unrecognized for extended periods with a variable progression of symptoms. The current paper describes the complex presentation of burning mouth syndrome with the major aim of increasing recognition

Avaliação do espaço aéreo faríngeo por meio da tomografia computadorizada de feixe cônico

INTRODUÇÃO: a avaliação do espaço aéreo superior faz parte da rotina na elaboração do diagnóstico e plano de tratamento ortodôntico. A radiografia cefalométrica em norma lateral tem sido usada rotineiramente na avaliação da permeabilidade do espaço aéreo, esbarrando na limitação de fornecer uma imagem bidimensional de uma estrutura tridimensional. A Tomografia Computadorizada de Feixe Cônico (TCFC) tem entrado na realidade ortodôntica trazendo um arsenal de informações concernentes ao espaço aéreo superior. Por fornecer uma imagem tridimensional, possibilita determinar de maneira precisa a área de maior estreitamento da faringe, que ofereceria maior resistência à passagem aérea. OBJETIVOS: o propósito deste artigo é esclarecer o ortodontista quanto aos recursos disponíveis na TCFC para o diagnóstico de possíveis barreiras físicas que possam diminuir a permeabilidade das vias aéreas superiores.INTRODUCTION: Evaluation of upper airway space is a routine procedure in orthodontic diagnosis and treatment planning. Although limited insofar as they provide two dimensional images of three-dimensional structures, lateral cephalometric radiographs have been used routinely to assess airway space permeability. Cone-Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) has contributed to orthodontics with information concerning the upper airway space. By producing three-dimensional images CBCT allows professionals to accurately determine the most constricted area, where greater resistance to air passage occurs. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this article is to enlighten orthodontists on the resources provided by CBCT in the diagnosis of possible physical barriers that can reduce upper airway permeability

Effects of age and gender on upper airway, lower airway and upper lip growth

The aim of the present retrospective study was to evaluate the influence of age and gender on upper and lower airway width and upper lip length. In this study, 390 lateral cephalograms were divided into 13 age groups (ranging from 6 to 18 years) and were analyzed. The intergroup differences were analyzed using a MANOVA (Multivariate Analysis of the Variance), and the intragroup differences were analyzed using an ANOVA (Analysis of the Variance) and Tukey's test. The results of the present study indicated that although the airway width and the upper lip length increased with age, the lower airway width exhibited variable growth between the ages of six and eighteen years. The airway width was significantly greater in females than males, whereas the upper airway width was similar between these two genders. The lip length was significantly shorter in females than males. The lower airway width and upper lip length were significantly different between males and females, whereas the upper airway width was similar for the genders. The upper airway width and upper lip exhibited incremental growth between the ages of six and eighteen years. The upper lip closely followed the growth pattern of the upper airway width; the growth plateaued between the ages of 6 and 9 years, increased from 9 to 16 years and plateaued from 16 to 18 years