Cephalometric traits in children and adolescents with and without atypical swallowing: A retrospective study

Authors

  • G Begnoni Phd fellow, DDS, Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, University of Milan
  • M Cadenas de Llano-Pérula Associate Professor, DDS, PhD, Department of Oral Health Sciences – Orthodontics, KU Leuven and Dentistry, University Hospital Leuven
  • C Dellavia Associate Professor, DDS, PhD, Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, University of Milan
  • G Willems Professor and Department Chair, DDS, PhD, Department of Oral Health Sciences – Orthodontics, KU Leuven and Dentistry, University Hospital Leuven

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.23804/ejpd.2020.21.01.09

Keywords:

Atypical swallowing, Cephalometric traits, Skeletal growth

Abstract

AIM: It has been suggested that atypical swallowing (AS) may negatively influence the skeletal and alveolar development, but its specific effects are still unclear. The aim of this work is to compare the cephalometric characteristics of children and adolescents with and without AS. METHODS: Study design: Case-control retrospective cross-sectional study. One hundred patients with (AS group) and 100 patients without AS (control group, C) were retrospectively selected. Their cephalometric data before orthodontic treatment were compared using a 3-way ANOVA variance test to detect any differences between groups considering: the type of swallowing (AS vs C); whether or not the second dentition was completed (SDC vs SDNC); and the gender (males-M and females-F). In addition, a Student-t test for unpaired data was carried out to detect differences between M and F within the AS and C groups. CONCLUSION: AS seems to affect the skeletal growth causing mandibular clockwise rotation, skeletal Class II, open bite and incisor proclination. To compensate for these effects, an increase in alveolar growth together with molar eruption seems to be induced.