Relationship Between Allergic Rhinitis and Dental-Facial Abnormalities

Background: Allergic rhinitis (AR) affects 10-25% of the general population and is of great importance for the impact on quality of life and school performance.¹ Rhinitis has been associated with craniofacial abnormalities due to the high frequency of mouth breathing, oral breathing syndrome occurs when the child replaces the correct pattern of breathing caused by nasal obstruction resulting from allergic disease.² Objective: To establish the type of relationship between allergic rhinitis and dental-facial abnormalities in the pediatric population of Veracruz ISSSTE Hospital General in 2009.

Methods: A case-control study, cases (25) were patients aged 6 to 18 years of age with allergic rhinitis. Controls (25) were entitled 6 to 18 years, informed consent, were referred to the dental service, where he underwent medical history and oral examination. For data analysis descriptive statistics were used, and chi-square test statistic (X2) and T test.

Results: The average age of cases was 12 ± 3.5 years, mean bodyweight 44.33kg, age of controls was 12.6 ± 3.8 years, weight 48.23kg. 16% of the cases has any oral habit (finger, tongue), in controls 36% assumed the habit. The predominant type of skull was normocéfalo controls (84%), where was dolichocephalic (63%). In dental abnormalities (dry lips, deep palate, malocclusion) 100% of cases had at least one, 90% have deep palate, in controls 32% had impaired and 24% with deep palate. We found a statistically significant difference p = 0.007, in the variable Inadequate Respirator Syndrome Nasal.

Conclusions: There is a partnership between the patient with allergic rhinitis and dental-facial abnormalities.