›› 2014, Vol. 34 ›› Issue (3): 192-196.

• Basic and Clinical Research • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Three-dimensional study of upper airway in skeletal class Ⅱ adults with different vertical facial types

  

  • Received:2012-10-08 Revised:2012-11-04 Online:2014-03-28 Published:2014-03-31

Abstract: Objective To analyze whether nasopharyngeal, palate-pharyngeal and glossopharyngeal airways differed among skeletal class Ⅱadults with different vertical facial types,and to study the association of vertical facial types with different parts of upper airway. Methods Cone-beam computed tomography(CBCT)records of 64 adult skeletal class Ⅱ patients (34 male and 30 female) were used to evaluate airway dimensions (sagittal diameter,transverse diameter,length,sectional area) and volume (in each part including nasopharynx, palatopharynx, and glossopharynx).The samples were divided into three groups according to the GoGn-SN angle(low angle group,average angle group,and high angle group).Upper airway differrences were measured and compared among three groups. Results The glossopharyngeal length and volume, as well as palate-pharyngeal Spns of high angle group were statistically significant different with those of low and average angle group(P<0.05),while no difference was found between low angle group and average angle group (P>0.05).Compared with the low and average angle groups, high angle subjects exhibited decreased LPns and Lu with statistically significant difference (P<0.05). No statistically significant difference in upper airway width was observed in nasopharynx, palatopharynx, and glossopharynx among patiens with different vertical skeletal facial types. Conclusions The vertical skeletal patterns may be contributory factors for the variation of upper airway stucture, especially for the nasopharynx and palatopharynx.It has relatively small influence on nasopharynx .

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