Evaluation of the palate dimensions of patients with perennial allergic rhinitis.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to compare the transverse and vertical palate dimensions of two groups of children, one diagnosed as having perennial allergic rhinitis (PAR) and the other without any respiratory pathology.


METHODS
Case-control study.


METHODS
Institute of Paediatrics and Child Care of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro.


METHODS
The sample consisted of 101 children with the diagnoses of PAR (mean age 6.5) and 91 without any respiratory pathology (mean age 7.3). From 192 patients, 65% was in mixed dentition phase and 35% in primary dentition. Each subject underwent an intra-oral clinical examination using three-dimensional Korkhaus compass to measure the intermolar distance, intercanine distance and palate depth.


RESULTS
The allergic group showed greater averages of palate depth (P = 0.00), both in the primary dentition phase (11.53 mm x 10 mm) and in the mixed dentition (11.96 mm x 10.21 mm). There was no statistically significant difference for intermolar and intercanine distances, either in primary or mixed dentition (P > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The transverse dimension of the palate did not vary significantly between the groups, which seems to confirm that the main influence of alteration of the breathing pattern from nasal to mouth occurs on the vertical plane.
de Freitas FCN
Department of Paediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. fcris@uol.com.br
Bastos
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Primo
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de Freitas
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D001938:Brazil; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002508:Cephalometry; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003481:Cuspid / Q000473:pathology; D003724:Dental Arch / Q000473:pathology; D003818:Dentition, Mixed; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008963:Molar / Q000473:pathology; D009058:Mouth Breathing / Q000473:pathology; D015508:Nasal Obstruction / Q000473:pathology; D010159:Palate / Q000473:pathology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012119:Respiration; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000473:pathology*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous