Open-mouth posture and maxillary arch width in young children: a three-year evaluation.
A large biracial sample of children were assessed for open mouth posture and maxillary arch width once a year for 3 years. Analyses revealed that although the youngsters exhibited open-mouth posture at high levels, over time, there was a significant decrease in this behavior. Racial and gender differences, as well as a race-by-time interaction, were also evidenced. The children displayed a significant increase in maxillary arch width across time, with gender and racial differences seen in this growth pattern. Finally, when the youngsters were classified as exhibiting primarily open-mouth or closed-mouth posture, it was observed that children with open-mouth posture displayed a significantly slower pattern of maxillary growth compared with children who display anterior lip seal posture. The implications of the findings were discussed.
Gross
A M
AM
Department of Psychology, University of Mississippi, University.
Kellum
G D
GD
Michas
C
C
Franz
D
D
Foster
M
M
Walker
M
M
Bishop
F W
FW
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D044383:Black People; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003724:Dental Arch / Q000254:growth & development*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008437:Maxilla / Q000254:growth & development*; D009058:Mouth Breathing / Q000208:ethnology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011187:Posture; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012737:Sex Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D044465:White People; D001741:Black or African American