Editor's Summary and Q&A: Clinical estimation of mouth breathing
Refers to article:
Clinical estimation of mouth breathing
Sachiko Fujimoto, Kazunori Yamaguchi, Kaori Gunjigake
American Journal of Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopedics
November 2009 (Vol. 136, Issue 5, Pages 630.e1-630.e7) Abstract |
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Introduction
Breathing mode was objectively determined by monitoring airflow through the mouth, measuring nasal resistance and lip-seal function, and collecting information via questionnaire on the patient's etiology and symptoms of mouth breathing.
Methods
The expiratory airflow through the mouth was detected with a carbon dioxide sensor for 30 minutes at rest. Fifteen men and 19 women volunteers (mean age, 22.4 ± 2.5 years) were classified as nasal breathers, complete mouth breathers, or partial mouth breathers based on the mean duration of mouth breathing. Nasal resistance, lip-sealing function, and the subjective symptoms of mouth breathing ascertained by questionnaire were statistically compared by using 1-way and 2-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the chi-square test in the breathing groups.
Results
Nasal resistance was significantly (P <0.05) greater for the mouth breathers than for the nasal breathers, and significantly (P <0.05) greater for the partial mouth breathers than for the complete mouth breathers. There were no significant differences in the subjective responses to questions about mouth breathing among the 3 groups.
Conclusions
Detecting airflow by carbon dioxide sensor can discriminate breathing mode. Degree of nasal resistance and subjective symptoms of mouth breathing do not accurately predict breathing mode.
Kitakyushu, Japan
Read the full text online at:www.ajodo.org, pages 630.e1-630.e7.
ABSTRACT