Prevalencia De Respiración Bucal Y Anomalías Dentomaxilares En Escolares De La Ciudad De Azogues.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of mouth breathing and associated dentofacial anomalies in schoolchildren in the City of Azogues. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The population comprised 235 children aged 6 to 12 from educational institutions in the city of Azogues urban area. A reference population of 600 children was considered. Using the OpenEpi program with 95% confidence, the sample size calculation resulted in 235 individuals. The sample was randomly selected. Inclusion criteria: Schoolchildren within the specified age range, regardless of gender, with characteristics associated with the habit of mouth breathing, whose parents approved the informed consent, and children who signed the informed assent. Exclusion criteria: Children with dentofacial malformations associated with syndromes and those wearing orthopedic or orthodontic appliances that hinder the visualization of the oral habit. RESULTS: A high prevalence of mouth breathing, 62%, and dentofacial anomalies, 97%, was determined. Regarding the percentage of mouth-breathing children with dentofacial anomalies, it was 62%. There was no statistical significance between these factors. This result was consistent when looking for a relationship between the variables dentofacial anomalies, mouth breathing, age, and gender. CONCLUSION: This study's prevalence of mouth breathing and dentofacial anomalies was high, primarily in the 6 to 12-year-old group. There was no statistical significance when relating the variables mouth breathing, dentofacial anomaly, age, and gender.