The Interconnection between Malocclusion and Mouth Breathing

Abstract

For decades, the impact of mouth breathing on malocclusion has been a contentious topic within dentists and otolaryngologist. When malocclusion is correlated with mouth breathing, patients display modifications in tooth and jaw positioning, facial height, and morphological changes in the oropharynx. However, the interaction between dentists and physicians is limited, even though it is in the best interest of the patients to be treated with a joint approach. This inadequate interaction is partially due to the lack of proper communication, limited interdisciplinary knowledge, and poor coordination between the professionals that should be involved in the case. For the patient, the interdisciplinary approach between dentists and otolaryngologists is beneficial, resulting in less costly and shorter treatments. The dentist, with an early diagnosis for a mouth breathing patient, ensures a correct treatment plan, potentially avoiding progression of the malocclusion as well as further dental and skeletal deformations. The otolaryngologist can improve the respiratory function and restore oral muscle balance. This will also prevent the establishment of a malocclusion, avoid the progression and/or prevent treatment relapses if a malocclusion is present. In this mini review we present how mouth breathing is associated with malocclusion, the most common facial phenotype in mouth breathers and discuss the dental management of malocclusion cases associated with mouth breathing.