Correlation and comparative evaluation of nasal index and nasal cavity volume in nasal and mouth breathers A preliminary cone-beam computed tomographic study

Introduction: Mouth breathing is one of the most deleterious oral habits with a prevalence of 4%–6% among children. Due to the wide range of comorbidities associated with mouth breathing, early diagnosis and prompt treatment is indispensable. At present, there are very few objective methods available for the diagnosis of mouth breathing. The present study was planned to evaluate a possible correlation between nasal index (NI) and nasal cavity volume (NCV) among nasal and mouth breathers (MB). In addition, the average NCV of nasal and MB was also computed. The foresight of this research was to establish the significance of NI as an objective diagnostic tool for mouth breathing. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 8–11-year-old children. The NI was determined using a digital Vernier caliper and NCV was calculated using dolphin imagingsoftware. Results: There was a significant difference in NCV and nasal width (NW) in both groups, but no difference was seen in nasal height and NI. There was no statistically significant correlation between NCV and other parameters in both groups. Conclusion: The present study was a baseline analysis in this line. Even though this study did not reveal any significant correlation between both parameters, future studies are recommended to explore a plausible correlation.