RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare the transverse and vertical palate dimensions of two groups of children, one diagnosed as having perennial allergic rhinitis (PAR) and the other without any respiratory pathology. DESIGN: Case-control study. SETTING: Institute of Paediatrics and Child Care of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. SAMPLE AND METHODS: The sample consisted of 101 children with the diagnoses of PAR (mean age 6.5) and 91 without any respiratory pathology (mean age 7.3). From 192 patients, 65% was in mixed dentition phase and 35% in primary dentition. Each subject underwent an intra-oral clinical examination using three-dimensional Korkhaus compass to measure the intermolar distance, intercanine distance and palate depth. RESULTS: The allergic group showed greater averages of palate depth (P = 0.00), both in the primary dentition phase (11.53 mm x 10 mm) and in the mixed dentition (11.96 mm x 10.21 mm). There was no statistically significant difference for intermolar and intercanine distances, either in primary or mixed dentition (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The transverse dimension of the palate did not vary significantly between the groups, which seems to confirm that the main influence of alteration of the breathing pattern from nasal to mouth occurs on the vertical plane.