Nasal Breathing & Airway Function Flashcards
7 cards from real COM practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Nasal Breathing & Airway Function flashcards as text
During orofacial myofunctional assessment, the mirror fogging test (Glatzel mirror) is used to:
Answer: Detect airflow from each nostril during nasal breathing
The Glatzel mirror is placed under the nostrils and the fogging pattern on the mirror indicates the presence and symmetry of nasal airflow from each nostril.
Which craniofacial characteristic is most commonly associated with long-term habitual mouth breathing in children?
Answer: Elongated face with narrow upper arch and high palatal vault
Chronic mouth breathing allows the tongue to rest low, removing palatal pressure, which leads to a narrowed upper arch, high palatal vault, and increased vertical facial growth.
An 'obligate mouth breather' in orofacial myofunctional practice is best defined as a patient who:
Answer: Cannot breathe nasally due to anatomical or structural obstruction
An obligate mouth breather has a physical or structural reason—such as enlarged adenoids, nasal polyps, or severe septal deviation—that prevents nasal breathing.
Gingival inflammation concentrated along the upper anterior teeth, in the absence of poor plaque control, most commonly suggests:
Answer: Habitual mouth breathing causing localized xerostomia
Mouth breathing desiccates the anterior gingival tissues, leading to chronic inflammation in the maxillary anterior region even when oral hygiene is adequate.
Forward head posture observed during orofacial myofunctional assessment is most strongly associated with:
Answer: Habitual mouth breathing and low tongue posture
Mouth breathers often extend the head forward and upward to open the airway, which becomes a habitual postural compensation linked to low tongue rest posture.
The 'adenoid face' associated with chronic mouth breathing in children typically includes:
Answer: Narrow upper arch, increased anterior vertical dimension, and open mouth posture
Adenoid face is characterized by a narrow, high-arched palate, long lower face, incompetent lip seal, open bite, and retrognathic or recessed mandible from chronic mouth breathing.
When structural nasal obstruction is suspected during orofacial myofunctional evaluation, the most appropriate first step is to:
Answer: Refer the patient to an otolaryngologist (ENT) for evaluation and clearance
Structural obstructions such as a deviated septum, enlarged adenoids, or nasal polyps must be medically evaluated and addressed before OMT can be effective.