title: Respiratory mode, nasal patency and palatine dimensions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the influence of breathing mode and nasal patency in the dimensions of the hard palate by comparing mouth breathing (MB) and nasal breathing (NB) adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-seven individuals, distributed into the MB group (n=38) and the NB group (n=39), of both genders and aged between 18 and 30 years old, took part in the study. The respiratory mode diagnosis was based on anamnesis, physical characteristics, and otorhinolaryngological examination. The volunteers were evaluated in terms of nasal patency, with a peak nasal inspiratory flow (PNIF) meter, and obstruction symptoms, by a Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) scale, and had their transversal and vertical hard palate dimensions measured with a digital caliper in plaster models.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Comparing both groups, the MB group presented significantly higher values in the NOSE scale, lower values in the PNIF, lower values in the transversal distance of the palate in the intercanine region, and significantly higher values in the vertical distance in the regions of the first and second premolars and molars. There was a negative correlation between PNIF and NOSE, and a positive correlation between PNIF and transversal distance of the palate in the region of the first premolars.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MB adults presented reduced nasal patency and a higher degree of nasal obstruction symptoms. The hard palate was morphologically narrower and deeper in adults with the MB mode compared to the NB mode. Moreover, it was concluded that the smaller the nasal patency, the greater the obstruction symptoms and the narrower the hard palate.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Elaine
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Trevisan
authors.affiliation: Sobresp Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: José Humberto
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Bellinaso
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Andrielle de Bitencourt
authors.initials: Ade B
authors.lastname: Pacheco
authors.affiliation: Hospital de Guarnição de Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luciana Barros
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Augé
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Maria Toniolo da
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Eliane Castilhos Rodrigues
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Corrêa
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009058:Mouth Breathing / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015508:Nasal Obstruction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009929:Organ Size; D021362:Palate, Hard / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology*; D012119:Respiration; D025363:Rhinomanometry; D055815:Young Adult