Dimensional changes in maxillary sinus of mouth breathers.

Aims: Nose being the primary mode of air intake in humans can be obstructed in certain conditions and mouth takes over the process of breathing. As a result, there is a reduced or complete loss of function of nose, which shows underdevelopment or stunted growth (change in form). This can lead to impaired pneumatization that can result in dimensional changes in the sinus.

Objective: To assess volume alterations in maxillary sinus as secondary and as compensatory mechanism to altered functional matrices by comparing overall maxillary sinus volume of mouth breathers with normal breathers in the age group 12-14 years and to evaluate effect of gender on maxillary sinus volume.

Material And Method: Maxillary sinus volume calculated using manual segmentation method from CBCT scans of 25 normal breathers and 25 mouth breathers were compared.

Results: Mean maxillary sinus volume of mouth breathers was significantly less than normal breathers (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: Mouth breathers showed lesser maxillary sinus volume but it is still uncertain whether the reduction in the volume of maxillary sinus is because the form of the maxillary sinus is affected due to improper functioning of nasal cavity or due to the underlying pathological condition resulting in poorly growing sinus.