LAUSR

Introduction: In this study, we aimed to examine the role of intermittent hypoxia (IH) in dentofacial morphologic changes in growing rats. Methods: Seven‐week‐old male rats were exposed to IH at 20 cycles per hour (nadir of 4% oxygen to peak of 21% oxygen) for 8 hours per day for 6 weeks. Control rats were exposed to normoxia (N). Maxillofacial growth was compared between the 2 groups by linear measurements on cephalometric radiographs. To examine the dental arch morphology, study models and microcomputed tomography images of the jaws were taken. Additionally, tongue size was measured. Results: The gonial angle and the ramus of the mandible were smaller in the IH group than in the N group, whereas the body weights were not different between the 2 groups. Morphometric analysis of the dentition showed a significantly wider mandibular dentition and narrower maxillary dentition in the IH than in the N group. The relative width (+4.2 %) and length (tongue apex to vallate papillae, +3.5 %) of the tongue to the mandible were significantly greater in the IH group than in the N group. Conclusions: IH induced dentofacial morphologic discrepancies in growing rats. HighlightsWe exposed growing rats to intermittent hypoxia.Intermittent hypoxia does not disrupt general growth in rats.Intermittent hypoxia can restrict mandibular growth in rats.Intermittent hypoxia impacts arch dimensions and tongue size in rats.Effects of intermittent hypoxia might be associated with craniofacial changes in children.