PURPOSE: to evaluate and compare head and neck posture, and the relationship between occlusal class, among mouth and nasal breathing children. METHODS: an observational, cross-sectional study was carried out, in which 110 children took part. These were divided into Group I: nasal breathers, and Group II: mouth breathers. For evaluating the respiration, we used mirror clouding and filling the mouth with water tests, with intrabuccal clinical exam for the Angle occlusal classification. Posture analysis was carried out by means of photogrammetry, and the software Alcimagem® was used to measure the predefined angle by the protuberances of the Spinous Process of the 7th Cervical Vertebra, Manubrium of the sternum and Mentum Vertex. The obtained data were tabulated and submitted to a statistical analysis, using the program SPSS 12.0 with a 95% confidence interval. RESULTS: a larger cervical angle was observed for Group II (96.59º±8.79) than for Group I (86.60º±8.53), showing statistically significant differences (p<0.001). The majority (68.5%) of the mouth breathing individuals presented class II occlusion Angle, and this relationship was significant (p<0.05). The class II individuals showed a larger cervical angle, differing statistically from the class I patients (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: it may be concluded that there is a connection between mouth breathing, alteration in head and neck posture and class II occlusal Angle in the studied children. In mouth breathing subjects, forward inclination of the head is predominant.
Mouth Breathing; Spine; Dental Occlusion
