Cephalometric study of the changes of the medium and lower thirds of the face in patients with different breathing and facial patterns

Stella Angélica de Souza GOUVEIA, Ana Carla Raphaelli NAHÁS, Flávio Augusto COTRIM-FERREIRA

Aim: To assess the possible relation of respiratory patterns and facial types with linear and angular variables of the Ricketts analysis – CF-N.CF-A, Po-Or.ENA-ENP, CF-Go, CF-Xi.Po-Or, Xi-Pm, N-P.Go-M, A-NP, Po-Or.Na – and the Nasopharynx and Oropharynx linear variables proposed by McNamara; and of the facial types with the respiratory patterns, and the respiratory patterns with the Vert variables. Methods: The sample consisted of 88 lateral teleradiographs of Brazilian leucoderm boys and girls, ranging from 7 to 12 years of age (mean age 10.5 years) of whom 45 were mouth-breathers and 43 nasal breathers. The computerized cephalometric method covered analysis of the variables to determine the facial type, according to Ricketts (Vert Index). After the measurements were taken, assessment of the method error by the Dahlberg formula was applied (mean = 0.52), followed by t Student and chi-square tests (p < 0.05) statistical assessments. Results and Conclusions: There were no statistically significant alterations in the variables when related to the respiratory patterns; there were statistically significant differences in the following variables: Convexity of point A, Posterior face height, Maxilla depth, Facial cone, Corpus length and Nasopharynx when related to the brachyfacial and dolicofacial types. The variables Facial cone and Corpus length also presented significant differences between the brachyfacial and mesofacial types, and the variable Facial cone presented significant differences among all the facial types; the brachyfacial type presented significant correlation (p = 0.011) with the nasal respiratory pattern; and Facial depth presented statistically significant difference (p = 0.028) when related to the respiratory patterns.

Keywords: Cephalometry. Craniofacial growth. Mouth-breathing. Ricketts. McNamara.

Monday, May 06, 2024 10:40