ABSTRACT:
Purpose:
to compare facial anthropometric measures in adults according to breathing mode and gender.
Methods:
the study sample comprised 82 adult subjects, aged 18 to 35, 59 females and 23 males. From the speech-language and otorhinolaryngologic assessment, 46 nasal breathers and 36 mouth breathers were diagnosed. The facial measures were obtained with a caliper and compared according to the subject's diagnosis of breathing mode and gender, through the Student's t-test and Pearson's Correlation, with a significance level of 5%.
Results:
the vertical anthropometric measures (middle third, lower third, facial height, upper lip and lower lip) were found to be significantly higher in mouth breathers and displayed positive correlation with the breathing mode. All facial measurements performed were found to be higher in males and showed positive correlation with the variable gender.
Conclusion:
the facial anthropometric measurements of the vertical plane were found to be higher in mouth breathers, suggesting a more elongated facial pattern of growth in these subjects. All facial anthropometric measurements obtained in the vertical, horizontal and transverse planes were found to be higher in male subjects.
KEYWORDS:
Face; Measurements; Anthropometry; Mouth Breathing; Adult
