Prevalence of dental occlusal patterns and their association with obstructive upper airway diseases in primary school children, Isfahan, Iran

Teeth, apart from their physiologic function, play an important role in general appearance of indivduals. Therefore any disorder in their growth and evolution, will cause psychologic, social and even economic problems for the person. This observational cross- sectional study aimed to investigate relationship between dental occlusal patterns and obstructive nasal-upper airway- diseases. This study was perfromed in schools of No.4 Education at district of Isfahan in educational year 1381-82 between 607 students [277 male, 330 female] aged 9-12 years old. Results of accurate ENT and dentistry physical examination were registered and analyzed using SPSS software and Chi-square and Mantel - Hanzel test. With increasing age, The frequency of abnormal occlusal patterns increases [from 45.5% to 68.2% in males and 25.8% to 48.5% in females, p=0.015]. The increasing in degree of palatal tonsilar hypertrophy was related to higher frequency of abnormal occlusal patterns [36.7% in +1 tonsilar hypertrophy, and 70% in +4 tonsilar hypertrophy, p=0.02]. Also, history of frequent common colds, and history of previous nasal fractures were related with abnormal patterns [58.9% [p=0.032], and 83.4% [p= 0.043%], respectively].Five other parameters including sinusitis, hypertrophy of nasal turbinates, rhinitis, nasal polyposis and nasal septal deviation were not associated with abnormal occlusal patterns [p>0.1]. Some of obstructive upper airwacy diseases are related with abnormal dental occlusal patterns. These parameters can be simply diagnosed, treated or prevented