ABSTRACT
Purpose
To investigate the influence of mouth breathing on the maximum molar bite force in children.
Methods
One hundred and five children were divided into two groups: the control group (CG) without respiratory symptoms and the clinical pattern of a competent lip seal, and the mouth breathers (MB) who had respiratory complaints and an otorhinolaryngological diagnosis of nasal obstruction. All participants were assessed for their maximum isometric bite force (MIBF), on both sides of the dental arch, with a gnathodynamometer positioned in the region of the first molars. Paired and unpaired Student’s t-tests were used in the comparisons of the MIBF of both sides from each group and between each group (CG and MB). The degree of obstruction was correlated with MIBF (MB), using the Spearman correlation test. Results with p≤0.05 were considered significant.
Results
There were no significant differences in the MIBF values between the right and left sides of the dental arch. In a comparison of the MIBF values of the CG and MB participants, no difference between the groups were found in general. However, when the age of the survey participants was correlated against MIBF, an increase in MIBF value according to age was evident for the CG participants.
Conclusion
Nasal obstruction did not influence maximum isometric bite force in children between three and 12 years old. There was no correlation between the degree of obstruction and the bite force. The CG bite force was higher for older children, however, this correlation was not observed in MB.
Bite force; Mouth breathing; Child; Nasal obstruction; Dentition, Mixed