A study on the impact of different degrees of adenoid hypertrophy on the upper airway space and craniofacial bone structure of children with mouth breathing
Objective:To investigate the effects of different degrees of adenoid hypertrophy on the craniofacial bone structure and upper airway space of children.Methods:A total of 42 pediatric patients,diagnosed with adenoidal hypertrophy and accompanied by oral breathing symptoms via nasopharyngoscopy,were recruited.These children were divided into three groups based on the severity of adenoidal hypertrophy:Grade Ⅱ,Grade Ⅲ,and Grade Ⅳ hypertrophy groups.Each child un-derwent a lateral cephalometric radiography,and relevant measurements of the upper airway and cranial structures were con-ducted using Dolphin software.Comparisons were made among the different groups,and differences in cephalometric and up-per airway measurement data were also analyzed between children aged 3~5 years and>5 years.Results:There were statisti-cally significant differences in the comparisons of SNB,ANB,U1-SN,U1-NA,SAS,PNS-UPW,and UT-MPW among the three groups of children with different degrees of hypertrophy(P<0.05).In the Grade Ⅳ hypertrophy group,the values of SNB,SAS,PNS-UPW,and UT-MPW were smaller,while ANB,U1-SN,and U1-NA were larger compared to the Grade Ⅱ hypertro-phy group(P<0.05).For children with Grade Ⅲ hypertrophy,ANB,U1-SN,and U1-NA were larger,while SAS,PNS-UPW,and UT-MPW were smaller than those in the Grade Ⅱ hypertrophy group(P<0.05).The SNB of children in the>5 years group was smaller,ANB,U1-SN,IMPA,U1-NA,L1-NB,and SAS were all larger compared to the 3~5 years group(P<0.05).ANB,U1-SN,U1-NA were positively correlated with the degree of adenoidal hypertrophy,SNB,age,SAS,PNS-UPW,UT-MPW were negatively correlated with the degree of adenoidal hypertrophy(P<0.05).Conclusion:There are significant differences in craniofacial skeletal and dental development among children with varying degrees of adenoidal hypertrophy.Ad-ditionally,there are also differences in craniofacial development among children with adenoidal hypertrophy as they age.In summary,the degree of adenoid hypertrophy is an important factor affecting craniofacial bone and dental development in chil-dren.