Nasopharyngeal Airway Dimensions in Different Dentofacial Skeletal Patterns

Abstract

Introduction: Dentofacial growth and development is noticeably affected by the various oropharyngeal and nasopharyngeal structures. It is also presumed that airway adequacy is related to the size and position of the mandible rather than maxillary variables. The purpose of this study was to compare the dimensions of nasopharynx in subjects with Class I and Class II malocclusions with normodivergent and hyperdivergent facial patterns. Methodology: Pretreatment cephalometric radiographs of 80 subjects in age group of 14 to 25 years were taken and divided into four groups according to Apoint, nasion, B point (ANB) and Frankfort to mandibular plane angle (FMA) with 20 subjects in each group. The measurements of the dimensions of the nasopharynx, in all the subjects were taken. Results: The anteroposterior dimensions of nasopharynx is narrower in subjects with Class I skeletal malocclusion with vertical growth pattern as compared to subjects with Class II skeletal malocclusion with vertical growth pattern as suggested by dimensions at posterior pharyngeal wall 1 and posterior pharyngeal wall 2 (PPW- 1 and PPW-2). The anteroposterior dimensions of nasopharynx was narrower in subjects with Class II skeletal malocclusion with vertical growth pattern as compared to subjects with Class II skeletal malocclusion with average growth pattern as suggested by dimensions Ptm-adl and Nphl. Conclusion: The nasopharyngeal airway dimensions are narrower in subjects with vertical growth patterns and compared to the subjects with average or horizontal growth patterns. The narrower anteroposterior dimensionof the airway in hyperdivergent patients may be attributable to skeletal features common to such patients, that is, retrusion of the maxilla and the mandible and vertical maxillary excess and the relatively thin posterior pharyngeal wall observed in hyperdivergent patients might be a compensatory mechanism.

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