Dentofacial morphology and upper respiratory function in 8-10-year-old children.

OBJECTIVES The aim of this preliminary study was to assess the nature of associations between selected dentofacial morphological variables and respiratory mode as measured by percent nasality (%N) as part of an ongoing longitudinal study. DESIGN Cross-sectional cohort study. SETTING AND SAMPLE POPULATION The Pediatric Clinical Study Center, Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH. Ninety-eight normal children were tested. EXPERIMENTAL VARIABLE Normal variation in %N. OUTCOME MEASURE Selected dentofacial morphological variables including total and lower anterior face heights, face width, and palatal arch width and %N were estimated. RESULTS Small associations between morphologic features and respiratory mode were found, but none were statistically significant. CONCLUSION No evidence exists for the classic association between 'mouth breathing' and the stereotype of the 'adenoid facies'.