Objective: To investigate the prevalence and factors associated with mouth breathing among patients with developmental disabilities of a dental service.
Methods: We analyzed 408 dental records. Mouth breathing was reported by the patients' parents and from direct observation. Other variables were as -follows: history of asthma, bronchitis, palate shape, pacifier use, thumb -sucking, nail biting, use of medications, gastroesophageal reflux, bruxism, gender, age, and diagnosis of the patient. Statistical analysis included descriptive analysis with ratio calculation and multiple logistic regression. Variables with p < 0.25 were included in the model to estimate the adjusted OR (95% CI), calculated by the forward stepwise method. Variables with p < 0.05 were kept in the model.
Results: Being male (p = 0.016) and use of centrally acting drugs (p = 0.001) were the variables that remained in the model.
Conclusion: Among patients with -developmental disabilities, boys and psychotropic drug users had a greater chance of being mouth breathers.
Keywords: cerebral palsy; dental care for disabled; developmental disabilities; mouth breathing.
© 2016 Special Care Dentistry Association and Wiley Periodicals, Inc.