Correlation Between Malocclusion and Nasal Septum Deformities

In Hungary children who have been subject to orthodontic treatment were examined at the Heim Pál Children's Hospital. As a side-result of the treatment nasal septum deformities were found in many cases. Because of the high proportion of these deviations a deeper examination was required to find relations and causes. As a result of a thematic analysis carried out by the authors it was proven that malformation can result in otolaryngologic problems in facial and dental development such as nasal septum deviation or other deformations. For this reason further practical examinations were required.

Methods:

A study was conducted on a sample of 60 children within the age group of 6 to 17 years old. Model analysis and X-ray analyses (cephalometric, OP) have been carried out with regard to these cases. The cases were divided into 5 groups of 12 - early mixed, intermediate mixed, late mixed, early permanent and a control group. The first four groups contained children with crossbite.

Results:

In case of children with distal crossbites (in the late mix group) the size of nasal septum deviation is significantly higher than that of the control group. Even its size is lower this deviation is also evident in the other groups.

Conclusions:

However this field of research is not yet analyzed in depth, further examinations and analyses need to be carried out based on the results of our previous thematic analysis and our present study. Since this field is considered to be on the borderline of both otolaryngology and dentistry, cooperation from both professions is needed to achieve further results for the benefit of patients with such malformation.