Airway from an Orthodontic Perspective

Abstract

With the change in concepts of orthodontics over the years, the focus today has slowly shifted to airway-centered orthodontics. Several pathological conditions of the craniofacial region both genetic and epigenetic in origin can contribute to nasal and airway resistance and airway collapse, all of which could sooner or later predispose the patients to sleep-related breathing disorders. These have serious implications on the lifestyle, body homeostasis, and cardiovascular system. On the other hand increased resistance to airflow through the upper respiratory tract can lead to mouth breathing tendency or snoring at a young age which ultimately hinders the normal transverse, sagittal and vertical development of the craniofacial complex especially of the stomatognathic system. This review focuses on the two-way relationship between the airway and craniofacial region. It also attempts to point out the need to consider the various goals of airway-centered orthodontics as various orthodontic treatment modalities impact the airway in a significant manner both positively and negatively.

Keywords

• airway resistance
• nasopharynx
• obstructive sleep apnea
• oropharynx
• stomatognathic system