A survey on dentofacia! cephalometric measurements in mouth breathing patients with nasopharyngeal obstruction

Statement of Problem: The significance of adenoid tissue in Orthodontia appeared in 1954. At that time,even as today, orthodontists had an enduring interest in the relationship between excessive amounts of adenoid tissue, the developing occlusion, and facial morphology. The aim of this study was to evaluate effect of mouth breathing with adenoid enlargement on dentofacia! cephalometric measurements. A sample of 92 subjects between the ages of 6 and 15 years old were studied in two study and control groups. In study group, 46 mouth breathers (32 girls and 14 boys) with mean of 1 1.26 years old were examined by orthodontist and ENT specialist in order to confirmation of nasopharyngeal obstruction.Control group contained 46 nasal breathers (35 girls and 11 boys) with mean of 11.33 years old. For each patient in centric occlusion, a lateral cephalogram was taken and traced. 12 dentofacial variables were measured and statistical t-test was conducted by calculating the mean, standard deviation and p-value of parameters. Statistical t-test for mean oi~ dentofacial variables for the two groups revealed that some of variables were significantly different. In study group Z Go.Me-SN, Z Y-A.xis, Z Go, Z SN-PL variables were significantly higher than control group and Z HoFIl, Z SNB were significantly lower. The other dentofacial variables (ZS, IMPA,Z SNA, Z ANB. Z Ar and LH) didnt show any significant difference. Adenoid enlargement and nasopharyngeal obstruction can affect dentofacial morphology and cause facial vertical growth pattern and upper centrals retrusion.