title: Three-dimensional assessment of pharyngeal airway in nasal- and mouth-breathing children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to assess the pharyngeal airway space (PAS) in nasal and mouth-breathing children using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT).
  
  
  METHODS
  Volume, area, minimum axial area and linear measurements (PAS-NL, PAS-UP, PAS-OccL, PAS-UT, PAS-Bgo, PAS-ML, PAS-TP) of the pharyngeal airway of 50 children (mean age 9.16 years) were obtained from the CBCT images. The means and standard deviations were compared according to sexes (28 male and 22 female) and breathers patterns (25 nasal breathers and 25 mouth breathers).
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no statistically significant differences (p>0.05) between all variables when compared by sexes. Comparisons between nasal and mouth breathers showed significant differences only in two linear measurements: PAS-OccL (p<0.001) and PAS-UP (P<0.05). Airway volume (p<0.001), area (p<0.001) and minimum axial area (p<0.01) had significant differences between the groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The CBCT evaluation showed that pharyngeal airway dimensions were significantly greater in nasal-breathers than in mouth-breathers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Matheus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Baratieri
authors.forename: Lincoln I
authors.initials: LI
authors.lastname: Nojima
authors.forename: Matilde C G
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Nojima
authors.forename: Antônio C O
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Ruellas
mesh_terms: D000403:Airway Resistance / Q000502:physiology; D002508:Cephalometry; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D009058:Mouth Breathing / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology; D010614:Pharynx / Q000502:physiology*; D012119:Respiration; D015656:Respiratory Mechanics / Q000502:physiology*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity