Jaw dimensions and inter arches relation in mouth brearhing children

ABSTRACT

AIM: This research evaluates the dimension characteristics of jaw and the inter arches relation in children with reduction of nasopharynx space by hypertrophy of the pharyngeal tonsils in the mixed dentition stage. MATERIAL AND METHODS: the sample was composed by initial orthodontic documents of 25 patients of both genders, from 6 to 10 years old, diagnosed with nasopharynx obstruction by two specialists (one orthodontist and one otorhinolaryngologist) based on anamnesis, medical history, clinical tests, face photos and evaluation of the respiratory airways through lateral telereadiography. In this early moment, occlusal characteristics were not considered during the diagnosis. The sample was composed by only the cases in which both professionals considered presenting significant obstruction of airways (isthmus ≤ 4mm), able to provide changes on growth and occlusion and that presented the inclusion criteria. The cases selected had their initial plaster models evaluated by means of a digital caliper (brand Vonder) previously calibrated. The intra arches and inter arches included in this study were: intercanine and intermolar distance; anterior and total length of dental arch, depth of the dental arch overjet, overbite and terminal plan/molar and canine relation. RESULTS: It was not found correlation among the isthmus values and variable analyzed. Intra arches measurements presented similar behavior among them, showing their severity. CONCLUSION: Intra arches and inter arches analyzed showed values similar to them reported in the literature, evidencing the influence of nasopharynx space reduction on the morphology of arcade and on occlusion.