Cheng Bo, Mohamed Amin S, Li Hongfei, Li Yutong, Liu Jiawen, Liu Lifeng, Zou Rui, Wang Fei
Key Laboratory of Shaanxi Province for Craniofacial Precision Medicine Research, Clinical Research Center of Shaanxi Province for Dental and Maxillofacial Diseases, College of Stomatology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710004, China; Orthodontist, Clinic 4, Xi'an Jiaotong University, China.
PhD candidate, Melbourne Dental School, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
J Stomatol Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2025 Oct;126(5S):102384. doi: 10.1016/j.jormas.2025.102384. Epub 2025 Apr 28.
Mouth breathing is considered a predisposing factor for sleep breathing disorders which may affect facial morphology, this study investigated the effect of age, gender, and breathing pattern on children's facial morphological development.
3dMD system (3dMD Inc., Atlanta, GA, USA) was utilized to acquire 3D images of the face. A total of 195 children aged 7-12 years were divided into 12 groups by age (7-8 years group, 9-10 years group,11-12 years group,), gender, and breathing pattern (mouth breathing MB, nasal breathing NB). A total of nineteen linear, angle, and ratio measurements were performed. Independent t-tests, Mann-Whitney U tests, One-way ANOVA tests and Kruskal-Wallis test were used to compare between the groups. Linear regression was used to test the relationship between age, gender, breathing patterns and facial development.
In males, facial convexity angle (FCA) was significantly greater in the MB group than in the NB group in the 11-12 years age group (MB:17.82 ± 5.86, NB:13.24 ± 3.95, P = 0.023). In females, mandibular width increased with age only in the NB group (P < 0.01); in the 9-10 years group, FCA was greater in the MB group than in the NB group (MB:19.03 ± 5.99, NB:14.3 ± 4.59, P = 0.036). In the 11-12 year old group, the mandibular width was significantly smaller in the MB group (MB:111.11 ± 6.34, NB:117.07 ± 8.53, P = 0.026) than in the NB group. Age (P < 0.01) and gender (P < 0.01) were correlated with mandibular width. Additionally, age (P < 0.01), gender (P < 0.01) and respiratory mode (P < 0.05) were correlated with lower lip height.
The upper mid-part development of the face increased with age, and MB showed a more convex profile in males and a narrower mandible in females. The lower third of the facial development was correlated with age, gender, and breathing pattern. Furthermore, mouth breathing was correlated with limitation of mandibular development and increased lower lip height.
口呼吸被认为是睡眠呼吸障碍的一个诱发因素，睡眠呼吸障碍可能会影响面部形态，本研究调查了年龄、性别和呼吸模式对儿童面部形态发育的影响。
利用3dMD系统（美国佐治亚州亚特兰大市的3dMD公司）获取面部的三维图像。总共195名7至12岁的儿童按年龄（7 - 8岁组、9 - 10岁组、11 - 12岁组）、性别和呼吸模式（口呼吸MB、鼻呼吸NB）分为12组。总共进行了19项线性、角度和比例测量。使用独立样本t检验、曼 - 惠特尼U检验、单因素方差分析和克鲁斯卡尔 - 沃利斯检验对各组进行比较。使用线性回归来检验年龄、性别、呼吸模式与面部发育之间的关系。
在男性中，11 - 12岁年龄组的MB组面部凸度角（FCA）显著大于NB组（MB：17.82±5.86，NB：13.24±3.95，P = 0.023）。在女性中，仅NB组的下颌宽度随年龄增加（P < 0.01）；在9 - 10岁组中，MB组的FCA大于NB组（MB：19.03±5.99，NB：14.3±4.59，P = 0.036）。在11 - 12岁组中，MB组的下颌宽度显著小于NB组（MB：111.11±6.34，NB：117.07±8.53，P = 0.026）。年龄（P < 0.01）和性别（P < 0.01）与下颌宽度相关。此外，年龄（P < 0.01）、性别（P < 0.01）和呼吸模式（P < 0.05）与下唇高度相关。
面部的上中部发育随年龄增加，口呼吸在男性中表现为面部轮廓更凸，在女性中表现为下颌更窄。面部发育的下三分之一与年龄、性别和呼吸模式相关。此外，口呼吸与下颌发育受限和下唇高度增加相关。
