Relationship of oropharynx to craniofacial morphology in skeletal Class II patients

Abstract

Background and Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess correlation between craniofacial morphology and oropharynx, genderwise variation of the oropharynx to craniofacial morphology and to assess the average width of oropharynx in Skeletal Class II patients in the age group of 10-13 years. Methods: Lateral cephalograms of 100 patients with Skeletal Class II malocclusion were obtained from the archives of M.S. Ramaiah Dental College and hospital, Bangalore. The pre-treatment radiographs were taken from the cephalostat (Planmeca 2002 cc Proline Panoramic unit) under standardized conditions with patient's Frankfurt plane oriented parallel to floor. Results: When all the angular and linear craniofacial variables were compared between males and females, no significant difference was found between both the sexes. Among the angular variables cranial base angle (NSBa) was found to have negative correlation with lower airway. Linear distance between sella to nasion, nasion to basion, 3rd cervical vertebrae to hyoid bone, 2nd cervical vertebrae to hyoid bone, mandibular length (Go-Me), perpendicular distance from nasion to maxillary plane, menton to maxillary plane, gonion to maxillary plane, basion to point A showed moderate correlation with lower airway. Significant positive correlation was found between age, linear distance from sella to nasion, third cervical vertebrae to hyoid, 2nd cervical vertebrae to hyoid, gonion to menton, perpendicular distance from menton to maxillary plane, sella to maxillary plane, wits appraisal (AO-BO) and upper airway. Interpretation and Conclusion: The present study concluded that there was no significant variation between different sexes. The study also concluded that there was a significant correlation between craniofacial morphology and oropharyngeal airway. The average width of the lower airway was found to be 10.42mm SD - 3.459) and upper airway was 11.73mm (SD - 3.467) in skeletal class II patients in the age group of 10-13 yrs.