title: Functional alterations of the stomatognathic system in patients with allergic rhinitis: case-control study.
abstract: Mouth breathing can cause structural and functional alterations to the stomatognathic system.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this investigation was to study breathing, chewing, swallowing and speaking alterations present in patients with allergic rhinitis and associate it to rhinitis symptom intensity.
  
  
  METHODS
  170 patients between the ages of 6 and 55 years were prospectively evaluated in this study, all of them underwent both otorhinolaryngological and speech evaluation. Data on breathing, chewing, swallowing and speaking was gathered, as well as data from the medical evaluation. The data was compared and statistically analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The difference in signs and symptoms' score between GR and GC was significant. We noticed a significant difference between GR and GC in breathing, chewing and swallowing. We observed a significant association between the score of nasal obstruction and the intensity of breathing and chewing alterations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with allergic rhinitis have functional alterations in their stomatognathic system and an increase in nasal obstruction scores can be considered as a indication of such alterations.
authors: Divisão da Clínica Otorrinolaringológica, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina, USP.
authors: Catiane Maçaira de
authors: CM
authors: Lemos
authors: Niels Sales Willo
authors: NS
authors: Wilhelmsen
authors: Olavo de Godoy
authors: Ode G
authors: Mion
authors: João Ferreira de
authors: JF
authors: Mello Júnior
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003679:Deglutition / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008409:Mastication / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015508:Nasal Obstruction / Q000209:etiology; D012119:Respiration; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013060:Speech / Q000502:physiology; D013284:Stomatognathic System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055815:Young Adult