title: Evaluation of maxillary arch dimensions and palatal morphology in mouth-breathing children by using digital dental casts.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to analyze the variations of maxillary arch size and of palatal morphology in subjects with prolonged mouth-breathing due to allergic rhinitis when compared with a control group with normal breathing pattern by using a three-dimensional analysis on digital casts.
  
  
  METHODS
  26 Caucasian children (19 females and 7 males) with a mean age of 8.5 years (SD 1.6 years) were selected according to the following criteria: mouth-breathing pattern due to allergic rhinitis, early mixed dentition, skeletal Class I relationship and prepubertal stage of cervical vertebral maturation. The study group was compared with a control group of 17 nasal breathing subjects (9 females; 8 males, mean age 8.5 years SD 1.7 years). For each subject an initial dental cast was taken and the upper arch was scanned by using a tridimensional scanner. On each digital model linear measurements were performed to analyze maxillary arch dimensions and palatal morphology. Significant between-group differences were tested with the Student t-test (p<0.05).
  
  
  RESULTS
  the transverse dimension of the upper arch was significantly smaller in subjects of the study group thus confirming the influence of oral breathing on skeletal development with a significant constriction of the whole palate. The study group showed a higher and sharper palatal vault at the level of second deciduous molars and of first permanent molars.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Children with mouth-breathing pattern showed a significant constriction of the maxillary arch and an increased palatal height when compared with subjects with normal breathing pattern.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lione
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Buongiorno
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine, Orthodontics, University of Florence, Florence, Italy; Thomas M. Graber Visiting Scholar, Department of Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, United States. Electronic address: lorenzo.franchi@unifi.it.
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Franchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cozza
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003724:Dental Arch / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000254:growth & development; D003735:Dental Casting Technique; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008437:Maxilla / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000254:growth & development; D009058:Mouth Breathing / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010159:Palate / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011859:Radiography; D065631:Rhinitis, Allergic; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*
keywords: Digital dental casts; Mouth-breathing pattern; Palatal morphology