The shape of the maxillary arch is increasingly studied to examine the relationship between the width of the upper jaw and the risk of problems with breathing, such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). While it is generally accepted that a narrow arch is a potential factor for OSA, dental scientists also investigate the possibility that childhood breathing problems lead to narrow arches in the first place, reports Sacramento Dentistry Group. Thus, taking steps to help a child breathe through the nose, and not the mouth, are possibly very important to encouraging proper dental growth.
A review in the European Journal of Dentistry explained two factors suggested by researchers that may be involved in improper maxillary development. (The mandibular arch is found in the lower jaw, the maxillary arch in the upper.) First, breathing through the nose is believed to actually encourage the proper growth of the upper jaw. Part of the mechanism for this theory may be that oral breathing, instead of nasal breathing, tends to lower the tongue in the mouth. This constant position of the tongue is thought to “impede the…development of the maxilla.”
The shape of the maxillary arch directly affects the amount of air available to a patient when they breathe, states Sacramento Dentistry Group. While orthodontics can improve both the shape of the arches and the breathing function of patients, Sacramento Dentistry Group suggests that perhaps directed medical treatment when people are young may eliminate the need for braces or similar procedures as they grow older.
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