THE INFLUENCE OF MOUTH BREATHING ON MAXILLARY ARCH WIDTHS AND FACIAL DIMENSIONS (AN ANALYSIS USING A SPECIAL ARCH WIDTH INDEX)

Background: Mouth breathing, commonly resulting from nasal obstructions, significantly affects craniofacial
development by disrupting the balance of oral and facial muscles. This leads to altered posture, narrower maxillary arches, and increased vertical facial dimensions.
Aims and Objectives: The present study aimed to compare maxillary arch widths and cephalometric characteristics
between mouth breathers and nasal breathers.
Methods and Materials: A total of 152 participants aged 15–45 years were examined at the College of Dentistry, Hawler Medical University. Breathing tests (lip seal, mirror, water retention), 3D intraoral scans, cephalometric radiographs, and digital arch measurements using Meshlab software.
Results: showed that mouth breathers had significantly reduced arch widths (in first and second premolars, first molars area) and higher mandibular plane angles, anterior facial heights, and gonial angles compared to nasal breathers. Arch ratios were also lower among mouth breathers, indicating maxillary constriction. These craniofacial alterations were generally consistent across age groups, although anterior facial height increased slightly with age. Gender differences were minimal, with some variations observed in males.
The study highlights the importance of early identification and intervention for mouth breathers to prevent long-term
orthodontic and skeletal complications. Dental professionals should be aware of the structural implications of mouth
breathing to guide timely diagnosis and treatment planning.
Conclusion: In conclusion, the mouth breathing is accompanied with high risk of malocclusion. Mouth breathing is a
significant risk factor for reducing maxillary arch width and increasing cephalometric measures. These maxillary and
cephalometric changes are not affected by age, while somewhat affected by gender.