Clinical characteristics of patients with dental malocclusion: an
otolaryngologic perspective
Abstract
Abstract Objectives: To investigate the relationship between allergic
rhinitis (AR) and dental malocclusion from an otolaryngologic
perspective. Design: Retrospective study. Setting: Single tertiary
medical center. Participants: Patients (n=217) referred to the
otolaryngology department before initiating orthodontic treatment were
recruited. Main outcome measures: The frequency and severity of AR
symptoms, sinonasal outcome test (SNOT-22) scores, physical examination
findings, acoustic rhinometry results, and treatment modalities were
retrospectively assessed. Patients with positive skin prick test
findings (SPT) (n=173; orthodontic group) were compared with age- and
sex-matched patients being treated for AR (AR group). Results: Total
76.5% of the enrolled patients had subjective nasal symptoms, and
93.1% patients showed abnormal physical examination findings: inferior
turbinate hypertrophy (82.0%), adenotonsillar hypertrophy (31.8%) or
deviated nasal septum (7.4%). The 173 (79.7%) patients with positive
SPT results exhibited a significantly higher incidence of rhinorrhoea,
sneezing, and inferior turbinate hypertrophy compared to those with
negative SPT results. The proportion of patients who underwent
pharmacological or surgical treatments was significantly higher among
patients with nasal obstruction (92.0%) than among patients without
nasal obstruction (36.9%). The frequency and mean visual analogue
symptom scores for nasal obstruction, rhinorrhoea, and sneezing, as well
as all SNOT-22 domain scores were significantly higher in the AR group
than in the orthodontic group. The minimal cross-sectional area measured
with acoustic rhinometry showed no significant difference between
groups. Conclusion: Patients with dental malocclusion had a high SPT (+)
rate and a high prevalence of structural abnormalities of the upper
airway. Early intervention may prevent further progression of
malocclusion.