title: A longitudinal evaluation of open mouth posture and maxillary arch width in children.
abstract: Open mouth posture and maxillary arch width were assessed annually for 4 years in a group of children. While younger children exhibited high levels of open mouth posture, this behavior decreased significantly over time. Racial and sex differences, as well as a race-by-time interaction were also evident. The children displayed a significant increase in maxillary arch width across time with sex and racial differences in this growth pattern. Subjects were classified as exhibiting primarily open mouth or closed mouth posture. Although both groups showed increased maxillary arch widths over time, the closed mouth subjects showed significantly greater maxillary arch growth.
authors.affiliation: University of Mississippi, University 38677.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Gross
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Kellum
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Franz
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Michas
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Foster
authors.forename: F W
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Bishop
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D044383:Black People; D002508:Cephalometry; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003724:Dental Arch / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000254:growth & development; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008437:Maxilla / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000254:growth & development; D008445:Maxillofacial Development; D009055:Mouth / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D009058:Mouth Breathing / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015588:Observer Variation; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012737:Sex Factors; D044465:White People