Introduction: The most common causes of difficult nasal breathing among children are adenoid and tonsillar hypertrophy, leading to upper airway obstruction.
Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of adenoid and tonsillar hypertrophy on the sagittal and vertical dimensions of the craniofacial skeletal grow using cephalometric analysis.
Materials and Methods: A total of 102 lateral cephalograms of children in mixed dentition were analyzed. They were divided into two groups: 50 children with adenoid and tonsillar hypertrophy and 52 healthy nasal-breathing children. A total of sixteen angular, linear, and proportional parameters were assessed, including upper and lower pharyngeal widths.
Results: Children with difficult nasal breathing, particularly those with adenoid hypertrophy, predominantly exhibited Class II skeletal patterns (84.6%) and a vertical facial growth pattern, whereas nasal-breathing children most commonly presented with Class I skeletal patterns (55.8%). The upper pharyngeal width was narrower in children with adenoid hypertrophy (11.46 mm), while the lower pharyngeal width was enlarged in children with tonsillar hypertrophy (14.04 mm), likely due to compensatory tongue positioning.
Conclusion: Adenoid and tonsillar hypertrophy lead to complex structural and functional changes in the craniofacial region, affecting jaw position and pharyngeal morphology. Early diagnosis and an interdisciplinary approach are crucial to limit skeletal deformities and optimize subsequent orthodontic treatment.
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