title: Demineralization of teeth in mouth-breathing patients undergoing maxillary expansion.
abstract: Mouth breathing may cause deformities on the dental arch and be a risk factor for caries and periodontal disease; fixed orthodontic appliances compound the problem.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  to evaluate mineralization of tooth enamel and the oral cariogenic microbiota of mouth breathers that are using maxillary expanders.
  
  
  METHODS
  a prospective study of 20 mouth-breathing patients with maxillary atresia, aged from 09 to 13 years. Enamel mineralization was measured using a fluorescence technique, before installing the expander and after its removal. The cariogenic microbiota was evaluated by the No Caries®. The t test (p<0.05) was applied for the statistical analysis, and the oral microbiota was analyzed by incidence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  there was a statistically significant difference in the enamel mineralization level after maxillary expansion; the mean value was 3.08. The colorimetric test showed that the caries development potential was reduced in 45%, increased in 15%, and unaltered in 40% after maxillary expander use.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  there was a statistically significant difference in enamel mineralization after maxillary expansion; this difference was within the clinically normal range; the cariogenic potential increased in a small number of patients during orthodontic treatment.
authors.affiliation: Feira de Santana State University, Brazil.
authors.forename: Silvia Fuerte
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Bakor
authors.forename: Julio César Motta
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: Silvana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Frascino
authors.forename: Thereza Christinna Cellos Gonçalves Pinheiro
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Ladalardo
authors.forename: Shirley Shizue Nagata
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Pignatari
authors.forename: Luc Louis Maurice
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Weckx
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000382:microbiology; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D005453:Fluorescence; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008437:Maxilla / Q000002:abnormalities; D009055:Mouth / Q000382:microbiology*; D009058:Mouth Breathing / Q000150:complications*; D009967:Orthodontic Appliances / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010155:Palatal Expansion Technique; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012463:Saliva / Q000382:microbiology; D017001:Tooth Demineralization / Q000209:etiology*