Morphological change analysis based on cone beam CT of the upper airway for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome patients treated with oral appliance in skeletal class Ⅱ malocclusion with different vertical patterns

Abstract

To analyze the morphological changes in the upper airway of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) patients treated with oral appliance in skeletal class Ⅱ malocclusion with different vertical features by using cone beam CT (CBCT). Thirty-six patients diagnosed with OSAS by polysomnography and daytime sleepiness scale and skeletal class Ⅱ malocclusion were treated with oral appliance for 4 months. The changes based on CBCT in the morphology of glossopharyngeal and palatopharyngeal before and after treatment in OSAS patients with different vertical features were compared. After treatment with oral appliance, the glossopharyngeal and palatopharyngeal morphologies of patients with mild OSAS showed significant changes. After treatment with oral appliance, the glossopharyngeal morphology of all patients showed significant changes (P<0.05). The palatopharyngeal morphology of patients in the lower and average groups also exhibited significant changes (P<0.05). Sagittal changes in the glossopharyngeal measurements of high-angle patients demonstrated significant difference, whereas the other measured values showed no significant difference. The morphological changes in the upper airway were significant in OSAS patients with lower and average vertical patterns when treated with oral appliance, but the changes in high vertical patterns were not significant.