Cross-sectional Area Dimensions Research Articles

Study of pharyngeal airway morphology with CBCT: Benefits of four premolar extraction orthodontic treatments.

Four premolars extractions are routine procedures for correction of malocclusion, but will inevitably lead to a reduction of tongue space, whether this will weaken the pharyngeal airway remains a controversy. Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) radiographs of 80 patients who completed four premolar extraction orthodontic treatments were collected and divided into three anteroposterior skeletal groups according to the ANB (angle subspinale to nasion to supramentale) value. Linear, angular, cross-sectional area, and volumetric dimensions of the pharyngeal airway were measured using Dolphin Imaging 11.9 software. One-way analysis of variance and Pearson's correlation coefficient test were performed to assess the intergroup comparisons. Treatment changes were evaluated with two-sample t-tests. In intergroup comparisons, vertical linear and cross-sectional area differences were identified in S-Go/N-Me, VD1, VD1/N-Me, VD2/N-Me, AA, OAA and OMINI (p<0.05), while other measurements showed no significant differences. Angle2, the tilting degree of the pharyngeal airway, showed a positive correlation with ANB (p<0.05). As for the treatment changes, a significant increase was found in the pharyngeal airway in the Class I group (OUA p<0.05, VD1 p<0.001, VD2 p<0.05) and Class II group (VD1 p<0.001. VD2, p<0.05), and inversely, a significant decrease was found in the pharyngeal airway in the Class III group (OAA p<0.05, OMINI p<0.05, OUA p<0.05). No volumetric difference was identified. Interestingly, regarding the preoperative pharyngeal airway size, values trended to the mean value significantly. Four premolar extraction orthodontic treatments did not affect the pharyngeal airway volume except for the vertical liner and cross-sectional area dimensions. The trend of the gold standard suggested a positive influence of four premolar extraction orthodontic treatments.

Molar size sequence in the great apes: gorilla, orangutan, and chimpanzee.

In ape dentitions the common molar size sequence is assumed to be MC greater than M2 greater than M1. This sequence is held in contrast to the assumed human sequence, M1 greater than M2 greater than M3. Using mesiodistal, buccolingual, and cross-sectional area dimensions, this study indicates that the molar size progression in all three great ape species varies extensively from the assumed sequence.