Urtė Mackevičiūtė¹, Danielė Olenikaitė¹, Karina Brizickaja²

¹ Faculty of Odontology, Medical Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania

² Faculty of Medicine, Medical Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania

 

Abstract

Adenoid and tonsil hypertrophy is a lymphoid tissue enlargement developed due to chronic infection. These diseases are diagnosed by an otorhinolaryngologist during nasal endoscopy or pharyngoscopy. The main treatment for these diseases is adenoidectomy or tonsillectomy. Undiagnosed and untreated hypertrophy can affect the development of a child’s craniofacial system that may result in “adenoid face” and malocclusion. Cephalometric analysis is the main tool to diagnose orthodontic abnormalities. In the case of a skeletal open bite, the mandibular plane angle is increased. Incorrect tongue positioning in children is corrected with tongue spurs or palatal cribs. Open bite in adults is treated with braces to mask skeletal abnormality. Orthognathic surgery can be performed in the cases of large skeletal malocclusion. Cooperation between otorhinolaryngologist and orthodontist is important to ensure successful treatment results. This review reveals key aspects of the diagnosis and treatment of adenoid and tonsil hypertrophy and discusses the relation between adenotonsillar hypertrophy and malocclusion.

Keywords: adenoid hypertrophy, tonsil hypertrophy, open bite, cephalometric analysis.