Imaging Sci Dent.  2017 Mar;47(1):1-9. 10.5624/isd.2017.47.1.1.

Pharyngeal airway dimensions in skeletal class II: A cephalometric growth study

• Uslu-Akcam O

• KMID: 2391400
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5624/isd.2017.47.1.1

Abstract

PURPOSE
This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal dimensions of individuals with skeletal class II, division 1 and division 2 patterns during the pre-peak, peak, and post-peak growth periods for comparison with a skeletal class I control group.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Totally 124 lateral cephalograms (47 for skeletal class I; 45 for skeletal class II, division 1; and 32 for skeletal class II, division 2) in pre-peak, peak, and post-peak growth periods were selected from the department archives. Thirteen landmarks, 4 angular and 4 linear measurements, and 4 proportional calculations were obtained. The ANOVA and Duncan test were applied to compare the differences among the study groups during the growth periods.
RESULTS
Statistically significant differences were found between the skeletal class II, division 2 group and other groups for the gonion-gnathion/sella-nasion angle. The sella-nasion-B-point angle was different among the groups, while the A-point-nasion-B-point angle was significantly different for all 3 groups. The nasopharyngeal airway space showed a statistically significant difference among the groups throughout the growth periods. The interaction among the growth periods and study groups was statistically significant regarding the upper oropharyngeal airway space measurement. The lower oropharyngeal airway space measurement showed a statistically significant difference among the groups, with the smallest dimension observed in the skeletal class II, division 2 group.
CONCLUSION
The naso-oropharyngeal airway dimensions showed a statistically significant difference among the class II, division 1; class II, division 2; and class I groups during different growth periods.

Keyword

Cephalometry; Malocclusion; Nasopharynx; Orthodontics

MeSH Terms

Cephalometry
Malocclusion
Nasopharynx
Orthodontics
Retrospective Studies

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Hand-wrist radiographs of the patients in the pre-peak (A), peak (B), and post-peak (C) growth period groups.

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  Fig. 2 Cephalometric radiographs of a skeletal class II patient in pre-peak (A), peak (B), and post-peak (C) growth period groups.

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  Fig. 3 Cephalometric landmarks are shown on a traced image of a sample class I case. For definitions, see Table 2.

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