Orthodontist-otorhinolaryngologist: an interdisciplinary approach to solve otitis media

Authors:

ABSTRACT

Aim

This was to investigate in oral breathing children with an associated atypical pattern of swallowing and otitis media, the
effects of rapid maxillary expansion on nasal airway resistance and conductive hearing loss.

Methods

This study
examined 24 children (16 males and 8 females) in early mixed dentition period, with an age range of 6-8 years (mean age 7 years),
diagnosed with otitis media from the otorhinolaryngology Department of "Tor Vergata" Hospital. The young patients were seen in the
Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry University of Rome "Tor Vergata". All the subjects had an open mouth breathing
pattern with a secondary atypical swallowing mode and a conductive hearing loss resulting from otitis media. The therapeutic approach
was to apply a RPE fixed appliance (Butterfly expander).

Results

Follow up showed that after rapid maxillary expansion there was
nasal resistance reduction, increased nasal airflow and improvement in conductive hearing loss. CONCLUSION Rapid maxillary
expansion has been used for both dental and rhinological purposes in the belief that clinically significant reductions in nasal resistance
to airflow and an improvement in conductive hearing loss occur predictably.

PLUMX METRICS