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To evaluate the prevalence of sleep bruxism, related factors, and quality of life of preschool children and their families. The sample was 475 children between 4 and 5 years old enrolled in schools in the city of Bauru-Brazil. Parents/legal guardians answered two questionnaires, one to assess the presence of bruxism and related factors and another that was the validated Brazilian version of the Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (B-ECOHIS). Intraoral clinical examination was performed by two trained examiners (Kappa = 0.82) within the school environment. The data were analyzed using statistics and the Mann-Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis, and Spearman correlation coefficient. The significance level was p < 0.05. The prevalence of sleep bruxism was 47.4%. The highest prevalence was related to Class I canines and marked overjet, oral habits, such as nail biting, lip biting, chewing gum, and mouth breathing. Children with agitated sleep, reports of headache, and those considered aggressive, anxious, and/or shy were also more related. Conclusion: In the studied sample, sleep bruxism prevalence was high and related to important oral and general factors. Data also indicated SB as the main factor that interfered in the OHRQoL of children and their families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The association between obstructive sleep-disordered breathing (oSDB) and arterial stiffness, an independent predictor of cardiovascular outcomes, is not well established in children. This study compared cardiovascular parameters between healthy and oSDB children and aimed to identify predictors of arterial stiffness indices in children with oSDB. Cross-sectional study realized in a tertiary hospital from June 2018 to January 2020. Forty-eight children (3 to 10 years old) with clinical diagnosis of oSDB and indication for adenotonsillectomy and 24 controls were evaluated. Cardiovascular parameters were measured non-invasively by brachial artery oscillometry with a portable device. The main arterial stiffness indices assessed were augmentation index and pulse wave velocity, both derived from the aortic pulse wave. In the oSDB group, the questionnaires Obstructive Sleep Apnea-18 (OSA-18) and Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory version 4.0 (PedsQL 4.0) were applied. The oSDB group had higher values of reflection coefficient (p = 0.044) and augmentation index (p = 0.003) than the control group. Stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that age, female sex, reflection coefficient, and systolic volume were independent predictors of augmentation index. Higher pulse wave velocity values were associated with worse quality of life assessed by PedsQL 4.0 questionnaire. There was no association with OSA-18. The vascular and hemodynamic parameters were similar in both groups. Conclusion: Children with oSDB have increased augmentation index, an independent predictor of cardiovascular outcomes. The early identification of subclinical cardiovascular changes reinforces the importance of treating the disease, as well as changing lifestyle habits, to prevent complications in adulthood. What is Known: • The association between oSDB and cardiovascular risk in adults is well described in the literature. • Children with oSDB, regardless of their weight or sex, have higher PWV values when compared to non-snoring children. What is New: • Children with oSDB have augmented arterial stiffness, evidenced by the increase in AIx@75, measured non-invasively by brachial artery oscillometry with a portable device. • Low quality of life and therefore a high disease burden in children with oSDB may be a risk factor for arterial stiffness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: Upper airway obstruction may cause pulmonary hypertension in childhood. In this study we aimed to identify a possible correlation of systolic pulmonary arterial pressure (SPAP), using Doppler echocardiography, with nasal patency (NP), as measured by rhinomanometry, in mouth‐breathing (MB) children with allergic rhinitis (AR) and adenotonsillar hypertrophy (ATH). Methods: In this cross‐sectional study we evaluated 183 patients, from 2 to 12 years of age, at an MB referral clinic in Brazil, from December 2013 to 2017. We allocated patients to 4 etiology groups: group 1, 60 MBs with ATH; group 2, 47 MBs with AR; group 3, 43 MBs with both ATH and AR; and group 4, 33 nasal breathing control subjects. The ratio of total nasal inspiratory flow (assessed by active anterior rhinomanometry) and expected inspiratory flow adjusted for height determined the percent NP (%NP). Results: The median %NP was higher in controls than in the MB groups (controls, 114% [79‐147%]; ATH: 65% [5‐116%]; AR: 57% [23‐144%]; ATH and AR: 64% [3‐120%]; p < 0.001). Median SPAP was higher in the MB groups than in controls (SPAP: ATH, 26.0 [20.0‐35.0] mmHg; AR, 26.0 [22.0‐32.0] mmHg; ATH and AR, 26.30 [20.0‐34.0] mmHg; control, 22.0 [16.0‐30.0] mmHg; p < 0.001). SPAP showed a negative association with %NP (Spearman's rho = −0.24; p < 0.001). Conclusion: Reduced nasal airflow in MB children showed a correlation with higher levels of systolic pulmonary arterial pressure. The AR and ATH groups were similar in nasal obstruction severity and systolic pulmonary arterial pressure level distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: We sought to evaluate the acute effects of different inspiratory loads using nasal and oral interfaces on the volumes of the chest wall and its compartments, breathing pattern, and respiratory muscle activation in children with mouth-breathing syndrome. METHODS: Children with mouth-breathing syndrome were randomized into 2 groups, one with an inspiratory load intensity 20% of maximum inspiratory pressure (n = 14), and the other with an inspiratory load intensity 40% of maximum inspiratory pressure (n = 15). The chest wall volumes and electromyography of sternocleidomastoid, rectus abdominis, scalene, and internal intercostal muscles were used to analyze respiration against the 2 load intensities and using 2 interfaces (ie, nasal and oral). RESULTS: A total of 72 children with mouth-breathing syndrome were recruited, and 29 were evaluated in this study. The use of inspiratory load promoted improvement in the components of the breathing pattern: breathing frequency (P = .039), inspiratory time (P = .03), and total respiratory time (P = .043); and increases in tidal volume (P < .001), end-inspiratory volume (P < .001), and electrical activity of scalene muscles and sternocleidomastoid muscles (P < .001) when compared to quiet breathing. The load imposed via a nasal interface versus an oral interface provided an increase in tidal volume (P = .030), end-inspiratory volume (P = .02), and electrical activity of scalene muscles (P < .001) and sternocleidomastoid muscles (P = .02). CONCLUSIONS: The use of acute inspiratory loads improved the breathing pattern and increased lung volume and electrical activity of inspiratory muscles. This work brings new perspective to the investigation of using nasal interfaces during the application of inspiratory loads. The nasal interface was more effective compared to the oral interface commonly used in clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To identify the risk indicators of gingivitis among socioeconomic, clinical and gender variables in 5-year-old children attending preschools in Piracicaba, Brazil, in 2005.Materials and Methods: The sample consisted of 728 subjects attending 22 public (n = 428) and 18 private (n = 300) preschools. A previously calibrated examiner performed the clinical examination in an outdoor setting, under natural light, using a dental mirror, Community Periodontal Index probe and air-drying. Gingival status was measured using the gingival alteration index for 5-year-olds according to the national survey carried out in 2002 in Brazil (Health Ministry of Brazil, 2004). Socioeconomic variables (monthly family income, number of people living in the household, parents' educational level, home ownership and car ownership) were collected by means of a parental semi-structured questionnaire.Results: The prevalence of gingivitis was 16.6%. Monthly family income (p < 0.0001), father's education (p < 0.0007), mother's education (p = 0.0004), type of school (p < 0.0001), car ownership (p = 0.0854), gender (p = 0.0087), initial lesion (p < 0.0001), dental caries (p = 0.0008), crowding (p = 0.0054) and spacing (p = 0.0019) were associated with gingival bleeding at p < 0.15 and were selected for the regression analysis. By means of multiple logistic regression analyses, monthly family income of up to 4 Brazilian minimum wages, presence of initial lesion, presence of crowding and male gender were found to be risk indicators of gingivitis.Conclusion: The prevalence of gingivitis in 5-year-old preschool children in Piracicaba was 16.6%. Also, family income of up to 4 minimum wages, male gender, the presence of initial caries lesion and crowding were risk indicators of gingivitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Avances en Enfermería is the property of Editorial Universidad Nacional de Colombia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Introduction Breathing is one of the vital functions of the body and is essential for the maintenance of life. Preventive measures for respiratory disorders can be used by the population, as well as early self-diagnosis and immediate search for treatment based on knowledge of this subject. Objective this study developed a weblog on the breathing function targeting young people and analyzed the statistical data of views until the present moment. Methods The weblog was developed, and the stages of analysis, design, development and implementation were followed. All texts were evaluated by the Flesch Reading Index to verify the language, and the statistical data were analyzed by the number of views, countries with the highest number of views, search terms used, most viewed pages and number of comments on the blog. Results Issues related to the breathing function and thosemost cited in the literature were selected. The blog was structured using pages with content and curiosities, with texts with minimum readability of 50%, and was made available on the internet by means of the Wordpress tool. The statistics showed an increase in the number of visits after August 2015; the countries with the highest number of views were Brazil, United States and Portugal; the search terms used were unknown or related to mouth breathing; the most viewed pages related to mouth breathing and the comments addressed questions on mouth breathing, reports and compliments. Conclusion The blog “How do I breathe?,” aimed at young people and containing information about the breathing function, was developed and is available on the internet at the address: https://comoeurespiro.wordpress.com. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To evaluate the relationship between possible sleep bruxism and sleep characteristics in children.Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted through data collection of a pre-tested questionnaire answered by 111 parents on behalf of their children in the waiting room during their appointment at the Pediatric Dentistry Clinic of a public Brazilian university. The diagnosis of possible sleep bruxism was based on the international classification of sleep disorders (ICSD) criteria. The Chi-square test and logistic multinomial regression test were used in the statistical analysis.Results: The final model of logistic multinomial regression demonstrated that children with muscle pain in the mouth region (OR = 19.70 95% IC = 1.82-212.69), snoring (OR = 8.25 95% IC = 2, 56-26, 54), and those with parents with possible sleep bruxism have more of a probability of sleep bruxism.Conclusion: Potential sleep bruxism tends to be hereditary. Muscle pain, snoring, and mouth breathing were important signals associated with possible sleep bruxism among children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: to describe orofacial myofunctional findings, as well as the main otolaryngological, allergological and orthodontic problems found in mouth breathing children. Methods: 502 medical charts from the Mouth Breathing Outpatient Clinic from Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais were analyzed. The subjects were aged between 2 and 12 years (median 6.0 years) and, about genders, 289 (57.6%) were male and 213 (42.4%) were female. The data collected was regarding general anamnesis, speech-language pathology evaluation, as well as the relevant parts of otolaryngological, allergological and orthodontic assessments. Data was submitted to statistical analysis. Results: at anamnesis, significant prevalence of maintaining the mouth opened (98.0%), snoring (89.9%) and nocturnal drooling (68.6%) was observed. Allergologic evaluation showed positive skin test (59.0%) and rhinitis (57.8%) and otolaryngological assessment revealed hypertrophic adenoids (91.7%) and tonsils (72.6%) and changed nasal mucosa (60.3%). The findings on orthodontic evaluation were malocclusion (86.8%), convex facial profile (62.9%) and overbite (55.5%). Data from speech-language pathology assessment indicated inappropriate usual lips position (70.5%), facial changes in lips (65.4%) and tongue (64.4%) strength, high hard palate (57.1%), altered nasolabial angle (57.0%) and asymmetry (55.0%). Conclusion: alterations were found on the evaluations made by all professionals, confirming the huge impact of mouth breathing on quality of life of those children, and therefore the need for multidisciplinary treatment for these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the respiratory and postural adaptations associated with mouth and nasal breathing and to evaluate the associations of such adaptations in mouth breathers' self-perceived quality of life. Method: Cross-sectional study with mouth breathers (initial n=116 and final n=48) and nasal breathers (initial n=131 and final n=24) from elementary school, aged between 7 and 14 years. Chest expansion, using cirtometry, the breathing pattern and the use of accessory muscles, by means of clinical evaluations and photogrammetry, and flexibility tests were evaluated in both groups. Subsequently, the mouth breathers were asked to complete the quality of life questionnaire. Statistical tests: Chi-square, odds ratio, Mann-Whitney, and binomial tests were first applied followed by logistic regressions. Results: Thoracic breathing (p=0.04), using of accessory muscles (p=0.03) and reductions in flexibility (p=0.001) increased the chances of an individual being a mouth breather when compared to nasal breathers. Subsequently, using of accessory muscles decreased the chances of snoring among mouth breathers (p=0.03); the presence of shoulder asymmetry reduced the chances of experiencing quiet sleep (p=0.05) and increased the chances of coughing or being tired when playing or running (p=0.008). Finally, forward head position reduced the chances of waking up at night (p=0.04) and experiencing shortness of breath (p=0.05). Conclusions: Respiratory and postural adaptations increased the chances of individuals persisting with mouth breathing. Additionally, these adaptations could be associated with mouth breathers' self-perceived quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aims of the present study were to evaluate the association between breastfeeding and breathing development and to investigate associations between breastfeeding duration and the breathing patterns in children. A cross-sectional study was carried out at the Institute of Integrative Medicine Professor Fernando Figueira, Recife, Brazil, with a random sample of 732 children aged between 6 and 9 years. Breastfeeding and breathing patterns were identified using a questionnaire that was filled out by mothers or guardians, and a clinical examination of the children. Data were analyzed statistically by Pearson's chi-square test at 5 % significance level. The prevalence of mouth breathing was 48 %, whereas 52 % of the children were nasal breathers. Six hundred-forty children were breastfed; 46.2 % of them were mouth breathers and 53.8 % were nasal breathers. Ninety-two children were not breastfed; 59.8 % of them were mouth breathers and 40.2 % were nasal breathers. Breastfeeding for 24 months or more, as well as exclusive breastfeeding in the first 6 months, was associated with the development of nasal breathing. Conclusions Extended breastfeeding was associated with correct development of the breathing pattern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: to characterize lips and tongue posture, tone and mobility of mouth breathing children. Method: the subjects of this study, conducted in São Paulo, SP, Brazil, were 40 mouth breathing children, 26 (65%) male and 14 (35%) female, aging between 7 and 10-year old. MBGR protocol was used to evaluate the aforementioned aspects. Results: the following results were obtained for lip posture: semi-open lips (32.5%), alternating between open and closed lips (27.5%), open lip posture (22.5%) and closed lips (17.5%). With regards to the upper lip tone: 90% showed normal muscle tone, 10% lower tone, and no subjects showed a higher muscle tone. As for the tone of the lower lip, 80.0% of the children showed lower muscle tone, and 20.0% normal muscle tone. For the lips mobility variable, 100% had their mobility close to the best scores. Regarding tongue posture, 57.5% had a low-lying resting tongue posture, 32.5% did not allow for observation of this variable, and in 10.0% of the subjects the tongue was placed in an interdental resting posture. As for tongue muscle tone, 52.5% showed lowered tone, and 47.5% were considered normal. When assessing tongue mobility, 100% had mobility close to the best scores. Conclusion: characteristics of posture, tone and mobility of lips in this study's mouth breathing children were: semi-opened lip posture, upper lip with normal tone, lower lip with lowered tonicity and normal mobility. Regarding tongue characteristics: low-lying resting posture, lowered muscle tone and normal mobility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the decision making of orthodontists of Passo Fundo district - Rio Grande do Sul (RS, Brazil), in the Orthodontics/Speech Therapy interdisciplinary treatment of mouth breathing individuals. Methods: The present study is a quantitative approach and the design is descriptive, using as instrument data collection of a questionnaire sent to 22 orthodontists practicing in the above-mentioned district. The project was approved the the Ethics in Research Committee and all individuals signed a free informed consent. Results: All professionals considered the inter-relation between Orthodontics and Speech Therapy necessary, but divergences were found in situations where a associated therapy may exist, considering that 54.5% trust the interrelation to develop aspects associated to language, orofacial motricity and habits. In cases of associated treatment, the results obtained were considered satisfactory by 73.7% of professionals, even though they consider that only 6 to 20% of their patients collaborate with treatment. Conclusion: In relation to decision-making in treatment of mouth breathing individuals, the orthodontists in Passo Fundo/RS agree that there is need for speech therapy. The full vision of the individual in a multidisciplinary team is of fundamental importance in the treatment of patients with mouth breathing syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of RGO: Revista Gaúcha de Odontologia is the property of RGO: Revista Gaucha de Odontologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objectives: To assess the knowledge of a mouth breathing pattern among orthodontists in the city of Recife, Brazil, and to examine their treatment protocols. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, members of the Orthodontics and Facial Orthopedics Association of Pernambuco responded individual structured interviews. A form with 14 questions, validated using the face value method, was used to collect data. The level of significance was set at 5%. Results: Of the 90 participants, 55.6% were women; 78.9% were specialists (the highest educational level); 67.8% worked full-time in private practice, and 38.9% were also professors. The most frequent diagnostic criteria were: Body posture (97.8%), lip competence (96.7%), and dark circles under the eyes (86.7%), with similar results among young and old orthodontists. The use of the Glatzel mirror was infrequent (3.3%). The most frequently mentioned mouth breathing sequelae were craniofacial (94.4%) and body posture (37.8%) changes. According to interviewees, mouth breathing duration (84.4%) was the item most often associated with sequelae. There were no significant associations between time since graduation and any of the factors under analysis. Most respondents, whether working in private clinics or in the public healthcare system, believed that mouth breathers should be treated by a multidisciplinary team. Conclusions: Most orthodontists, regardless of experience, have knowledge of the mouth breathing syndrome and understand the need of a multidisciplinary treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry 2011 Background. Morphological and dentofacial alterations have been attributed to impaired respiratory function. Objective. To examine the influence of mouth breathing (MB) on children facial morphology before and after adenoidectomy or adenotonsillectomy. Methods. Thirty-three MB children who restored nasal breathing (NB) after surgery and 22 NB children were evaluated. Both groups were submitted to lateral cephalometry , at time 1 (T1) before and at time 2 (T2) 28 months on average postoperatively. Results. Comparison between the MB and NB groups at T1 showed that mouth breathers had higher inclination of the mandibular plane; more obtuse gonial angle; dolichofacial morphology; and a decrease in the total and inferior posterior facial heights. Twenty-eight months after the MB surgical intervention, they still presented a dolichofacial morphologic pattern. During this period, MB altered the face growth direction and decreased their mandible plane inclination, with reduction in the SN.GoGn, PP.MP, SNGn, and ArGo.GoMe parameters as well as an increase in BaN.PtGn. Conclusion. After the MB rehabilitation, children between 3 and 6 years old presented significant normalization in the mandibular growth direction, a decrease in the mandible inclination, and an increase in the posterior facial height. Instead, they still persisted with a dolichofacial pattern when compared with nasal breathers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this article is to clarify the positions of the medical societies that have worked together to establish a consensus regarding the clinical and laboratory parameters involved in sleep-disordered breathing, particularly snoring and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). Orthodontists have gradually come to take part in multidisciplinary teams that act in the area of human sleep, but few know about the uniformity coordinated by the Brazilian Association of Sleep. Clinical and scientiic studies from the ield of dentistry (particularly orthodontics) also must observe and follow these diagnosis and treatment criteria established by the Brazilian medical community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: to investigate spectral parameters on voices of mouth-breathing children so as to contribute to the characterization of this population, thus to an efficient diagnosis. Methods: fifty mouth-breathing children and one hundred and one nasal breathing children were selected among five and ten year old children of both genders. Recordings were obtained from carrier phrases and segments of the oral vowels [a], [i] and [u] of Brazilian Portuguese in the stressed syllable were selected to estimate the fundamental frequency (f0) and the frequency of the first three formants (F1, F2 e F3). The signals were recorded, cut out and processed using Praat software. Results: the fundamental frequency for the vowels [i] and [u] showed lower frequency in the mouth-breathing group, while the frequency F1 of the vowel [u] was higher in the same group. Conclusion: our findings pointed out that the fundamental frequency is a vocal parameter that helps us to differentiate mouth-breathing children from nasal breathers, therefore contributing for a mouth breathing classification system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: to characterize symptoms and signs of Mouth Breathing in children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and with complaints about school underachievement. The specific objectives were to relate the found characteristics to the Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder types, gender and age of this population. Methods: data were collected at ADOLESCENTRO; a public institution of the State Secretary of Health of the Federal District - Brazil. Nocturne and daytime symptoms that appeared in the age ranging between two and twelve-years-old were reported by the parents and were analyzed, as well as some signs cited on literature as being common characteristics of Mouth Breathing. Results: a high frequency of Mouth Breathing characteristics were found to be associated with snoring, nocturne mouth breathing, rhinitis, sialorrhoea, dark undereye circles and dry lips. Related to the symptoms, an association was found among tonsillitis and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder types; sialorrhoea on the pillow with masculine gender and daytime mouth breathing; nocturne mouth breathing, sialorrhoea on the pillow with age. An association was found between non-functional lips with age and non-functional tongue with age. Conclusion: the possibility of simultaneous existence of Mouth Breathing on children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and complaints about school underachievement requires a deeper diagnostic investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed at analyzing and comparing longitudinally the EMG (electromyographic activity) of the superior orbicularis oris muscle according to the breathing mode. The sample, 38 adolescents with Angle Class II Division 1 malocclusion with predominantly nose (PNB) or mouth (PMB) breathing, was evaluated at two different periods, with a two-year interval between them. For that purpose, a 16- channel electromyography machine was employed, which was properly calibrated in a PC equipped with an analogue-digital converter, with utilization of surface, passive and bipolar electrodes. The RMS data (root mean square) were collected at rest and in 12 movements and normalized according to time and amplitude, by the peak value of EMG, in order to allow comparisons between subjects and between periods. Comparison of the muscle function of PNB and PMB subjects at period 1 (P1), period 2 (P2) and the variation between periods (Δ) did not reveal statistically significant differences between groups (p < 0.05). However, longitudinal evaluation of the muscle function in PNB and PMB subjects demonstrated different evolutions in the percentage of required EMG for accomplishment of the movements investigated. It was possible to conclude that there are differences in the percentage of electric activity of the upper lip with the growth of the subjects according to the breathing mode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Pesquisa Brasileira em Odontopediatria e Clinica Integrada is the property of Pesquisa Brasileira em Odontopediatria e Clinica Integrada Journal (Brazil) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Purpose: to describe the evolution of children with oral breathing, submitted to myofuncional therapy with emphasis on strengthening the muscles of the phonoarticulatoty organs and training of nasal breathing. Methods: six children, 5 and 11-year old, who had performed screening at the Division of Phonoaudiological Therapy at Irmandade Santa Casa de Misericordia de São Paulo, along the year 2007, who demonstrated oral or oronasal breathing and signals and symptoms that are characteristic to this alteration, and had not been submitted to previous phonoaudiological treatment. The patients underwent 10 sessions of miofuntional therapy, focused on strengthening the muscles of the phonoarticulatory organs and training of nasal breathing. After the sessions, a reassessment was carried out and the evolution of the patients was compared qualitatively. Results: four (66.66%) of the individuals were diagnosed with nasal obstruction. Three had been submitted to surgery previous to the phonoaudiological treatment. Two (33.33%) had a diagnosis of allergic rhinitis and were undergoing a treatment concomitantly to the sessions. All showed satisfactory improvement as for the worked issues. Three (50%) of the individuals had dentofacial deformities and made progress, though limited by the dental condition. All individuals showed improvement in the possibility of mouth closure and nasal breathing. Conclusion: ten sessions of miofuntional therapy, with emphasis on strengthening the muscles of the phonoarticulatory organs and training of nasal breathing were sufficient to obtain the improvement of the patients. The small number of the samples does not allow us to generalize the conclusion for others. We suggest to make further studies with larger populations and different age groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evidence suggests that energy-protein malnutrition is associated with impaired growth and development of facial bones. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between nutritional status and reduced space for dental eruption (crowding) in permanent dentition. A cross-sectional study with probabilistic sampling design was used. We evaluated 2,060 students aged 12 to 15 years enrolled in schools in the northeast of Brazil. Crowding was defined according to World Health Organization (WHO) as misalignment of teeth due to lack of space for them to erupt in the correct position. Nutritional status was evaluated by means of body mass index and height-for-age, using the WHO's reference curves. Parents and adolescents responded to a questionnaire about demographic, socioeconomic, biological and behavioral characteristics. The associations were estimated by odds ratio (OR) in multivariate logistic regression analysis (alpha = 0.05). Confounding and effect-modification were taken into account. An association between low height-for-age (z-score < -1SD) and crowding was only observed in adolescents with a prolonged history of mouth breathing (OR = 3.1). No association was observed between underweight and crowding. Malnutrition is related to crowding in permanent dentition among mouth-breathing adolescents. Policy actions aimed at reducing low height-for-age and unhealthy oral habits are strongly recommended. However, further studies are needed to increase the consistency of these findings and improve understanding of the subject.