Mouth breathing has been studied for more than 100 years, trying to search the real relationship with the malocclusions. The aim of this study is to assess the transversal facial dimensions of 60 children: 32 females and 28 males, whose had Angle Class I malocclusion with mouth and nasal breathing. 60 teleradiographies were outlined and selected in posteroanterior frontal norm to attainment of the 26 variables to the study. The evaluation of the respiratory pattern of each child was realized by a visual examination, to register the labial posture and, by a questionnaire answered by the parents of the child, which had data concerning medical history and respiratory pattern. After the diagnosis of respiratory mode, the sample was divided in groups: normal occlusion with nasal breathing (14 children), normal occlusion with mouth breathing (11 children), Angle Class I with nasal breathing (6 children), Angle Class I with mouth breathing (29 children). The results indicate that are no statistical significantly differences in the transversal dimensions of the face between the groups, that means, in this sample the individuals with Class I malocclusion with mouth breathing, showed transversal dimensions similar to the group with nasal breathing. Furthermore, no correlations were founded between the mouth breathing mode and posterior crossbite.
Mouth Breathing; Posteroanterior cephalometric; Diagnosis
