Evaluation of changes in the dentoalveolar morphology in children with asthma

Hereditary, environmental and developmental factors play an important role in dentofacial development as well as the initiation of malocclusion disorder. Allergic phenomenon such as asthma that induce an alternative mode of breathing in patients is a contributing factor in malocclusion. Our objective in this study was to evaluate the dentoalveolar morphology in asthmatic children. This study is centered on 44 asthmatic children aged between 6–12 years from J.S.S Hospital, Mysore. Selected variables from model analysis of the casts of the asthmatic group were subjected to comparison with those of the non asthmatic group, which comprised of 44 non asthmatic children. Selected parameters were arch width, arch length and palatal depth. Differences in arch widths, arch lengths and palatal depths between asthmatics and non asthmatics, and between subjects under regular and irregular medication in the asthmatic groups were evaluated by independent sample's ‘t’ tests. The results obtained revealed that the arch length and palatal depth of asthmatic group had higher values compared to that of non asthmatic groups for both age group (6–8 year old males and females, 10–12 year old males and females). Inter molar width showed a significant lower value in asthmatics in the maxillary arches of 10–12 year old females. Inter incisal width showed a significant lower value in 10–12 year old female asthmatics in the maxillary arch (P< 0.05). The present study proves a strong relation between Asthma and Dentoalveolar morphology as shown by an increased palatal depth and arch widths in Asthmatic children as compared to non asthmatic children.