The Use of Oral Screen in Children Patients with Mouth Breathing Habit: A Case Report

Bad habits of mouth breathing can affect the development and growth of the childrens craniofacial and dentofacial. The use of an oral screen appliance will be able to help eliminate the bad habit of mouth breathing. Case Report: An 11-years-old girl came to Universitas Padjadjaran Dental Hospital with the purpose of having her teeth cleaned. The patient has a bad habit of mouth breathing, protrusive maxillary teeth, and lip incompetence thus causing a profile shape change. An intraoral examination found a high palate, 9 mm overbite, and 14 mm overjet. An oral screen appliance was then used as a treatment. After five months of usage time, the lips were able to be closed together, 3 mm overbite, and 14 mm overjet. Discussion: Oral screens were in contact with the maxillary incisors thus the muscle pressure actively concentrated in the maxillary incisors. Also, oral screen produces a lingual pressure on the maxillary teeth and the teeth inclination. Substantial occlusal relationship changes may occur, which can reduce the overbite and overjet. The effect of using an oral screen on the incisors often associated with changes in the muscle activity. Conclusion: The oral screen was effective for improving the bad habits of mouth breathing.