Evaluation of the effect of snoring on occlusion in primary dentition

This study, it was aimed to evaluate the effect of snoring on occlusion in 5-year-old children who did not have erupted first permanent molars during the primary dentition period, who applied to Ankara University Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Pediatric Dentistry for a routine examination, by creating a digital model with three-dimensional scanning method. Among the parameters used routinely to evaluate the effect of snoring on occlusion in pediatric patients; overjet, overbite, molar and canine relationships, arch length, inter canine and intermolar width, and crowding were examined, macroglossia, Mallampati and Brodsky scores that may cause snoring were recorded, and questions were asked to parents/caregivers to evaluate their children's sleep quality and disorders. According to the results of the study; a statistically significant correlation was found between snoring and malocclusions such as high Mallampati and Brodsky scores, decreased maxillary intercanine width, and crowding in the maxillary arch. It was found that there is a statistically significant relationship between mouth breathing and snoring, and sleep-related day and night symptoms such as dry mouth, sweating during sleep, headache, and daytime hyperactivity were found to be statistically significantly higher in children who snore. Decreased maxillary inter-canine width and related maxillary crowding, and other values which less (not statistically significant) than the non-snoring group support that snoring causes malocclusions as well as shows that we can reach the goal of detecting and preventing or eliminating it in the early period. Pediatric dentists should be able to observe adenotonsillar hypertrophy during a routine examination, evaluate the crowding in the maxillary jaw, which is different from the normal physiology of primary dentition, and question the history of snoring, send the patient to the otolaryngologist if necessary, and detect and prevent adverse effects that may occur early. Pediatric dentists, orthodontists, pediatricians, and otolaryngologists will work in a multidisciplinary manner on this issue, both to increase the awareness of parents/caregivers and to support the development of optimal oral and dental health and normal occlusion without the need for costly, long-term interventions.