Three-dimensional evaluation of the relationship between nasopharyngeal airway shape and adenoid size in children

Three-dimensional evaluation of pharyngeal airway and maxillary arch in mouth and nasal breathing children with skeletal Class I and II

Objective

This study aimed to investigate whether the subjects with mouth breathing (MB) or nasal breathing (NB) with different sagittal skeletal patterns showed different maxillary arch and pharyngeal airway characteristics.

Methods

Cone-beam computed tomography scans from 70 children aged 10 to 12 years with sagittal skeletal Classes I and II were used to measure the pharyngeal airway, maxillary width, palatal area, and height. The independent t-test and the Mann–Whitney U test were used for the intragroup analysis of pharyngeal airway and maxillary arch parameters.

Results

In the Skeletal Class I group, nasopharyngeal airway volume (P < 0.01), oropharyngeal airway volume (OPV), and total pharyngeal airway volume (TPV) (all P < 0.001) were significantly greater in subjects with NB than in those with MB. Furthermore, intermolar width, maxillary width at the molars, intercanine width, maxillary width at the canines, and palatal area were significantly larger in subjects with NB than in those with MB (all P < 0.001). In the Skeletal Class II group, OPV, TPV (both P < 0.05) were significantly greater in subjects with NB than in those with MB. No significant differences in pharyngeal airway parameters in the MB group between subjects with Skeletal Class I and those with Skeletal Class II.

Conclusion

Regardless of sagittal Skeletal Class I or II, the pharyngeal airway and maxillary arch in children with MB differ from those with NB. However, the pharyngeal airway was not significantly different between Skeletal Class I and II in children with MB.

Evaluation of effects of removable functional orthodontic apparatus on the upper airway size by cephalometric films

OBJECTIVE

Respiration is a vital functional process that has effects on normal craniofacial development. Since the upper airway formations and dentofacial structures are adjacent to each other, the interaction between them is possible. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of removable functional appliances used in the treatment of patients with mandibular and maxillary growth retardation-stenosis in Class I, Class II, and Class III malocclusion on the upper airway.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Thirty two patients were studied in the study. The patients were divided into 4 groups according to treatment modalities. Maxillary expansion device group (Group A), Twinblock-Monoblock group (Group B), Face mask group (Group C), and Chincup group (Group D). The upper airway size in the lateral cephalometric images of the patients before orthodontic treatment with removable functional appliances (T0) and the upper airway size in the lateral cephalometric images taken after the end of the orthodontic treatment with the removable functional appliances (T1) were retrospectively compared.

RESULT

Most upper airway size increased after orthodontic treatment (T1) in the individuals who received orthodontic treatment with A, B, C, and D type removable functional appliances compared to pre-treatment (T0). When the changes in upper airway size pre-treatment (T0) and post-treatment (T1) were compared, the change in upper airway size according to treatment groups was found to be statistically different (p <0.05).

CONCLUSION

Since a large part of the upper airway is located in the craniofacial complex, orthodontists also examine the airway for diagnosis and planning and can regulate the airway in case of occlusion that has occurred or may occur. This puts orthodontists in an important place to intervene when complications occur or may develop in the upper airway. By determining the effects of removable functional appliances on the airways, airway problems that may be experienced at an early age can be prevented.

Three-dimensional analysis of upper airway and craniofacial morphology in orthodontic adolescents with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): A comparative retrospective study

PURPOSE

The aim of this study is to evaluate craniofacial characteristics and upper airway morphology in adolescents with Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity (ADHD) compared to controls (CON).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Records from July 2014 to May 2018 of patients who were seeking orthodontic treatment at a single institute and had full pre-treatment orthodontic records including cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) were reviewed. Comprehensive cephalometric variables were measured to determine craniofacial morphology. Upper airway volume (UAV), minimum cross-sectional area (MCA), and linear measurements were calculated at multiple planes.

RESULTS

A total of 87 adolescents (ADHD, 29; CON, 58) were included in the study. Overall, UAV and MCA in ADHA group were smaller than CON. Statistical significance was evident in airway widths at planes A (P=0.002), C (P=0.042), and D (P<0.001), and airway area at plane D (lower hypopharynx) (P<0.001), with the ADHD group showing narrower widths and area compared to CON. The most common skeletal classification in the ADHD group was sequenced as Class II, Class I then Class III, with percentages of (58.6%), (31%) and (10.3%), respectively. No significant differences were found between the groups for any of the skeletal, dental, and soft tissue cephalometric variables.

CONCLUSIONS

ADHD affected adolescents have similar craniofacial characteristics, but narrower upper airway dimensions compared to controls. Further investigations with larger samples are warranted to further elucidate the relationship between SDB and ADHD.

Reliability of upper pharyngeal airway assessment using dental CBCT: a systematic review

Background

Upper airway analysis is an often-cited use of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) imaging in orthodontics. However, the reliability of this process in a clinical setting is largely unknown.

Objective

Our objective was to systematically review the literature to evaluate the reliability of upper pharyngeal airway assessment using dental CBCT.

Search methods

MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Google Scholar were searched through June 2015.

Selection criteria

Human studies that measured reliability of upper airway assessment in patients using CBCT as part of the study protocol were considered.

Data collection and analysis

The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) was followed. Data were collected on overall study characteristics and measurements, CBCT unit and machine settings used, and examination characteristics of the included studies. Methodological quality of the included studies was evaluated.

Results

Forty-two studies were evaluated, representing the CBCT scans of 956 patients. Studies included a wide variety of patients and CBCT machines with various scan settings. Only five studies were deemed high quality. The available evidence indicates that under specific restricted conditions there is moderate to excellent intra- and inter-examiner reliability. Airway volume demonstrated greater intra- and inter-examiner reliability than did minimum cross-sectional area. However, significant methodological limitations of the current literature, most importantly a lack of manual orientation of the images and selection of threshold sensitivity in study protocols, suggest that reliability has not been adequately established.

Conclusions

The current literature reports moderate to excellent reliability, with airway volume having higher reliability than minimum cross-sectional area. However, only limited aspects of the process of airway analysis have been evaluated, indicating that further research is required to adequately establish the reliability of upper pharyngeal airway assessment of patients using dental CBCT.

Registration

None.

Gravitational forces, negative pressure and facial structure in the genesis of airway dysfunction during sleep: a review of the paradigm

The recent and distant literature has extensive discussion of how sleep apnea, adeno-tonsillar growth, and facial structural deformity are related. Conventionally, the order of cause and effect is as follows: (1) Inflammatory/infectious process→tonsillar/adenoid tissue growth→(2) airway obstruction and mouth breathing/Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)→(3) altered facial structure (adenoid facies). Using this same reasoning, adenotonsillectomy is the first line of treatment in the prevention of structural abnormalities. However, through a lifetime of clinical research Christian Guilleminault and his colleagues have challenged this paradigm. Through multiple articles and studies, Guilleminault et al., teach that even slight (subclinical) facial structure/muscle tone variations may be the inciting event triggering mouth-breathing and the eventual adenotonsillar growth in most patients. Essentially, this is the reverse of the conventional paradigms. Initial treatments therefore shift from simplified removal of inflammatory tissue to limiting mouth-breathing via musculo-skeletal modification. The purpose of this paper is to synthesize and analyze the recent (and distant) relevant literature to provide support for, and provide a potential anatomic mechanism for Guilleminault et al.'s paradigm-questioning clinical observations.

Cone-Beam Computed Tomography Analysis of the Nasopharyngeal Airway in Nonsyndromic Cleft Lip and Palate Subjects

Objective

To assess the nasopharyngeal airway volume, cross-sectional area, and depth in previously repaired nonsyndromic unilateral cleft lip and palate versus bilateral cleft lip and palate patients compared with noncleft controls using cone-beam computed tomography with the ultimate goal of finding whether cleft lip and palate patients are more liable to nasopharyngeal airway obstruction.

Design

A retrospective analysis comparing bilateral cleft lip and palate, unilateral cleft lip and palate, and control subjects. Significance at P ≤ .05.

Setting

Cleft Care Center and the outpatient clinic that are both affiliated with our faculty.

Participants

Cone-beam computed tomography data were selected of 58 individuals aged 9 to 12 years: 14 with bilateral cleft lip and palate and 20 with unilateral cleft lip and palate as well as 24 age- and gender-matched noncleft controls.

Variables

Volume, depth, and cross-sectional area of nasopharyngeal airway were measured.

Results

Patients with bilateral cleft lip and palate showed significantly larger nasopharyngeal airway volume than controls and patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate ( P < .001). Patients with bilateral cleft lip and palate showed significantly larger cross-sectional area than those with unilateral cleft lip and palate ( P < .001) and insignificant cross-sectional area compared with controls ( P > .05). Patients with bilateral cleft lip and palate showed significantly larger depth than controls and those with unilateral cleft lip and palate ( P < .001). Patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate showed insignificant nasopharyngeal airway volume, cross-sectional area, and depth compared with controls ( P > .05).

Conclusions

Unilateral and bilateral cleft lip and palate patients did not show significantly less volume, cross-sectional area, or depth of nasopharyngeal airway than controls. From the results of this study we conclude that unilateral and bilateral cleft lip and palate patients at the studied age and stage of repaired clefts are not more prone to nasopharyngeal airway obstruction than controls.

A comparative study of the pharyngeal airway space, measured with cone beam computed tomography, between patients with different craniofacial morphologies

PURPOSE

The present study aims to determine any existing association between airway dimensions, measured with cone beam computed tomography (CBCT), and the different patient craniofacial morphologies.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Sixty CBCT (Dental Picasso Master 3D) images, from patients treated at the Orthodontics Master at Valencia University were selected. The program InVivoDental 5.1 was used to visualize sections, analyze three-dimensional images, and perform airway measurements in the three planes of the space. Intra- and interobserver error methods were recorded. After that, measurements at three different levels of the airway (upper, medium, lower) were taken, in both the anteroposterior and transversal directions of the airway space. The area (mm(2)) of the airway space at the three levels was also measured.

RESULTS

In the anteroposterior airway measurements, there were differences between the measurements by level. The magnitude of these differences depended on the skeletal pattern of the individual. In the transversal airway measurements and in the area airway measurements, there were no differences according to the skeletal pattern. However, in the transversal direction, measurements in the lower level were significantly higher than in the superior level in all cases. When measuring the area, significantly higher measurements in the upper level were recorded. The homogeneity between medium and lower levels decreased gradually from class I to class III subjects.

CONCLUSIONS

No statistically significant results were observed that related the anteroposterior and vertical skeletal craniofacial morphology with airway dimensions, although some specific associations have been detected for certain airway levels or for pattern combinations.