A cephalometric study on the airway size according to the types of the malocclusion

Lee, Yong Seung; Kim, Jong Chul

Abstract

This study was performed to compare the size of soft palate, tongue and airway according to the types of the malocclusion and evaluate the correlation between the size of soft palate, tongue, airway and dentofacial skeleton respectively. The sample of this study was 98 malocclusion female patients between the ages 12 and 17 years. The lateral cephalometric radiographs were taken and the distance, angle, ratio and area of the dentofacial skeleton, soft palate, tongue and airway were measured and evaluated statistically. The results obtained were as follows : 1. There was significant difference in SNB, ANB, facial angle, facial convexity, A-B plane angel, Y axis to FH, SN-MP, Wits appraisal, ODI and APDI according to the types of malocclusion. 2. The hyoid bone was more posteriorly positioned in Class II malocclusion group than other two groups and superior-inferior position of the hyoid bone was not different according to the malocclusion types. 3. The nasopharyngeal area of Class II and Class III malocclusion group was smaller than that of Class I malocclusion group, and the pharyngeal area of Class II malocclusion group was smaller than that of Class I and Class III malocclusion group. There was no difference of the area of the soft palate, tongue, oropharynx and hypopharynx according to malocclusion types. 4. The ramal height and mandibular body length(Go-Me) showed positive correlation with the area of tongue, nasopharynx, oropharynx, and pharynx. SNA did not correlated with the area of tongue and airway but SNB showed positive correlation with the area of hypopharynx and pharynx. The anterior, posterior facial height, upper and lower central incisor position to facial plane showed positive correlation with tongue area.