Effects of reduced mouth opening capacity (trismus) on pulmonary function

In this study, pulmonary function test data were obtained from 15 healthy v olunteers and 15 patients with slightly impaired ventilation during both no rmal and maximally reduced opening of the mouth (trismus, intercuspal posit ion). The aim of the study was to examine the effects of complete trismus o n pulmonary function using objective and subjective parameters. In maximall y reduced mouth opening, both groups showed an impairment of all subjective and objective pulmonary function test data. In healthy volunteers, the sig nificant changes in test data (P<0.05) stimulated mild to moderate pulmonar y impairment, whereas patients with an already impaired pulmonary function showed a marked deterioration of their initial respiratory condition. The r esults of the subjective and objective parameters examined indicate that an intercuspal position (trismus) further aggravates pulmonary functional imp airment. Complete trismus can be considered a risk factor to pulmonary func tion in patients using mouth breathing as a primary or supportive mode of r espiration.