Christian Calvo-Henríquez1, Silvia Martins-Neves2, Ana Faraldo-García3, Alberto Ruano-Ravina4, Sofía Rocha2, Miguel Mayo-Yáñez2, Gabriel Martinez-Capoccioni3. 1. Service of Otolaryngology, Hospital Complex of Santiago de Compostela, Spain. Electronic address: christian.ezequiel.calvo.henriquez@sergas.es. 2. Service of Otolaryngology, Hospital Complex of La Coruña, Spain. 3. Service of Otolaryngology, Hospital Complex of Santiago de Compostela, Spain. 4. Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain; CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública, CIBERESP, Spain.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The prevalence of vertical facial growth is very high in the developed world. Most authors agree that mouth breathing is its main cause. Even though care is mainly conducted by odontologists, the professionals who first see these patients are pediatricians and otolaryngologists. The objective of this study is to analyze the ability of pediatricians and otolaryngologists to identify early signs of vertical facial growth among children. METHODS: 60 participant aged 4.1-13.7 years were analyzed subjectively by 9 otolaryngologists, 9 pediatricians and two specialists in dentofacial orthopedics. They were also assessed objectively with cephalometric analysis. RESULTS: Otolaryngologists showed 34.78% sensitivity, 92.86% specificity and 48.33% efficiency. Pediatricians showed 13.04% sensitivity, 100% specificity and 33.33% efficiency. Using a linear regression model compared against the objective measurements we found a weak positive correlation both for otolaryngologists and pediatricians. CONCLUSION: The sensitivity was very low for both groups. We believe it is of paramount importance to increase the awareness and the ability of otolaryngologists and pediatricians to recognize signs of disrupt facial growth.
BACKGROUND: The prevalence of vertical facial growth is very high in the developed world. Most authors agree that mouth breathing is its main cause. Even though care is mainly conducted by odontologists, the professionals who first see these patients are pediatricians and otolaryngologists. The objective of this study is to analyze the ability of pediatricians and otolaryngologists to identify early signs of vertical facial growth among children. METHODS: 60 participant aged 4.1-13.7 years were analyzed subjectively by 9 otolaryngologists, 9 pediatricians and two specialists in dentofacial orthopedics. They were also assessed objectively with cephalometric analysis. RESULTS: Otolaryngologists showed 34.78% sensitivity, 92.86% specificity and 48.33% efficiency. Pediatricians showed 13.04% sensitivity, 100% specificity and 33.33% efficiency. Using a linear regression model compared against the objective measurements we found a weak positive correlation both for otolaryngologists and pediatricians. CONCLUSION: The sensitivity was very low for both groups. We believe it is of paramount importance to increase the awareness and the ability of otolaryngologists and pediatricians to recognize signs of disrupt facial growth.