Breathing: old and fresh breezes in Orthodontics

Flavia ARTESE

Upon concluding a lecture on dentoalveolar bimaxillary protrusions and their treatment possibilities, I was asked many questions about the association between the reduction in the volume of dental arches after extractions and the development of respiratory disorders, notably obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). I admit that at that time I was not aware of the current evidence on the correlation between these two factors, which led me to question whether Orthodontics was causing OSA by retracting anterior teeth for almost a century. Although I searched for the answers to those questions, another one did not leave my mind. In that lecture, among the options for treating bimaxillary protrusions, the full distalization of dental arches using skeletal anchorage was also presented. And, although the dental arches are retracted, its possible association with OSA was not discussed in the question session. Would there be differences between these treatment possibilities with regard to the final position of the incisors in the anteroposterior direction? [...]

How to cite: Artese F. Breathing: old and fresh breezes in Orthodontics. Dental Press J Orthod. 2020 Sept-Oct;25(5):7-8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/2177-6709.25.5.007-008.edt

Friday, December 27, 2024 12:43