Sindrome dell’ostruzione respiratoria e unità rino-faringo-tubarica [Respiratory obstruction syndrome and the rhino-pharyngo-tubal unit]

Objectives: To evaluate the effects of airway obstruction on craniofacial morphology with emphasis on the oral and nasal cavities and the middle ear. Materials and methods: Obstructed breathing can alter the anatomy of the upper maxilla and the middle third of the face, producing functional and morphological changes in structures close to the oral cavity, such as the nose and ear. Results: Mouth-breathing children present underdevelopment of the maxilla, progressive atrophy of the nasal cavity, and Eustachian tube dysfunction that can lead to otitis media and conductive hearing loss. Orthopedic correction of the altered dental and skeletal morphology with rapid upper maxillary expansion can also solve problems involving the nose and ear. Conclusions: Mouth breathing alters the anatomy of the nasal cavity and maxilla and the function of the middle ear. Rapid maxillary expansion increases the transverse dimensions of the maxilla, enlarges the nasal cavity, and improves Eustachian tube function. The result is improved breathing and the reduction of conductive hearing loss.