3D Craniofacial-Airway Morphology In Mouth-Breathing Children

To characterize the interrelationships between upper airway morphology and craniofacial soft tissue development in children with adenotonsillar hypertrophy-associated mouth breathing, establishing a foundation for early detection and targeted therapeutic interventions. Sixty pediatric mouth-breathers (10–12 years) were stratified into adenoid hypertrophy (AH), adenotonsillar hypertrophy (ATH), and control group (n=30). Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and 3dMD imaging were used to measure upper airway and craniofacial soft tissue parameters. SPSS 22.0 was employed to compare intergroup differences and correlations between airway and soft tissue features. Compared to controls, the AH and ATH groups exhibited significantly reduced upper lip length, upper airway volume, nasopharyngeal and palatal airway volumes, alongside increased lower lip length, airway height, and gingival exposure(P<0.05). The ATH group showed greater facial convexity and chin volume but smaller nasopharyngeal, palatal, and glossopharyngeal airway volumes than the AH group. In the ATH group, nasal base width, lower lip-chin length, nasolabial angle, and lower lip volume correlated with nasopharyngeal airway morphology, glossopharyngeal and palatal airway volumes. Children with adenotonsillar hypertrophy and mouth breathing demonstrate narrowing of the nasopharyngeal, palatal, and glossopharyngeal regions. They exhibit more pronounced chin morphology, greater nasal base width and lower lip-chin length, alongside reduced facial convexity, nasolabial angle, nasal alar angle, and lower lip volume.