Evaluation of Dentofacial Angles in Children with Severe Adenoid Hypertrophy

Introduction: Hypertrophy of adenoids is a common condition in childhood, resulting in obstructive symptoms such as sleep apnea, snoring, and rhinosinusitis. Adenotonsillectomy is recommended to improve prognosis and quality of life. This case-control study compared facial angles and lip position related to dentofacial and mouth growth in symptomatic children with adenoid hypertrophy and asymptomatic control groups. Materials and Methods: The study included children aged 5 to 7 who presented with obstructive symptoms and confirmed severe adenoid hypertrophy in lateral neck radiography. Standard lateral photography was taken. The Nasofacial and Nasomental angles, and upper and lower lip positions and their distance behind the Ricketts line, were measured and compared with the normal control group. Results: This study included 54 children with severe adenoid hypertrophy and 66 normal children.  Facial angles were not significantly different between the two groups, but the mean horizontal position of the upper and lower lip in children with adenoid hypertrophy was significantly lower than in the control group (P value = 0.05). The lips were too close to the Ricketts line compared with the control group. Conclusions: This research demonstrates that children with severe adenoid hypertrophy have more dentofacial disorders than others. Adenotonsillectomy surgery is necessary for children with obstructive symptoms caused by tonsil enlargement, and if symptoms like snoring persist post-surgery, complementary orthodontic treatments should be considered.