PURPOSE: To describe the orofacial measurements and proportions of mouth breathing children and to compare the average of the right side of the face to the average of the left side of the face, according to age. METHODS: One hundred children of both sexes, with ages ranging from seven to 11 years and 11 months, leukoderms, in mixed dentition period and with mouth breathing diagnosis participated in the study. The children were submitted to anthropometric assessment, and the orofacial measurements obtained were upper lip, lower lip, philtrum, upper face, middle face, lower face and sides of the face. The instrument used was the electronic digital sliding caliper Starrett Series 727. RESULTS: There was statistically no difference among the averages of the anthropometric orofacial measurements of mouth breathing children, according to age, with exception of the middle face and the sides of the face. There was also no difference among the averages of the orofacial proportions of mouth breathing children, with exception of the proportion between upper face and middle face, and between the averages of the sides of the face, according to age. CONCLUSIONS: Statistically, no differences were found among most of the averages of the orofacial measurements and proportions of mouth breathing children, according to age.
Anthropometry; Mouth breathing; Measures; Face; Stomatognathic system; Dentition, mixed; Child
