Leslie Glupker1, Katherine Kula2, Edwin Parks3, William Babler4, Kelton Stewart5, Ahmed Ghoneima6. 1. Orthodontic resident, Department of Orthodontics and Oral Facial Genetics, School of Dentistry, Indiana University, Indianapolis, Ind. 2. Chair and Jarabak Endowed Professor, Department of Orthodontics and Oral Facial Genetics, School of Dentistry, Indiana University, Indianapolis, Ind. 3. Professor, Department of Oral Pathology, Medicine and Radiology, School of Dentistry, Indiana University, Indianapolis, Ind. 4. Acting chairman, Department of Oral Biology, School of Dentistry, Indiana University, Indianapolis, Ind; associate professor of anatomy, School of Dentistry, Indiana University, Indianapolis, Ind. 5. Assistant professor, Department of Orthodontics and Oral Facial Genetics, School of Dentistry, Indiana University, Indianapolis, Ind. 6. Assistant professor, Department of Orthodontics and Oral Facial Genetics, School of Dentistry, Indiana University, Indianapolis, Ind; lecturer, Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt. Electronic address: aghoneim@iu.edu.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Airway dimensions are closely linked to the bone and soft-tissue craniofacial anatomy. Reduction of the airway is seen with airway disorders and can impair function. The purpose of this retrospective study was to determine whether changing from open to closed jaw position affects the volume of the nasal cavity, nasopharynx, and oropharynx; the soft palate; the soft-tissue thickness of the airway; and the most constricted area of the airway. METHODS: Following reliability studies, in this retrospective study, we analyzed cone-beam computed tomography scans taken in both closed and open jaw positions of 60 subjects who were undergoing diagnosis and treatment of temporomandibular disorders. On each scan, condyle-fossa measurements, volumes of airway segments (nasal cavity, nasopharynx, oropharynx), soft palate areas, soft tissue thicknesses of the airway, and the most constricted area of the airway and its location were measured using Dolphin imaging software (version 11.5; Patterson Dental Supply, Chatsworth, Calif). Differences between the 2 jaw positions were analyzed with paired t tests, accepting P ≤0.05 as significant. RESULTS: Significant changes in airway dimensions were found between the closed and open jaw positions. With jaw opening, the nasopharynx volume increased, whereas the oropharynx volume decreased. Significant decreases were also found for measurements of basion to posterior airway wall, cervical vertebrae to posterior airway wall, most constricted area, nasal cavity volume, and soft palate area when the jaw was open. CONCLUSIONS: Changing jaw position significantly affects airway dimensions.
INTRODUCTION: Airway dimensions are closely linked to the bone and soft-tissue craniofacial anatomy. Reduction of the airway is seen with airway disorders and can impair function. The purpose of this retrospective study was to determine whether changing from open to closed jaw position affects the volume of the nasal cavity, nasopharynx, and oropharynx; the soft palate; the soft-tissue thickness of the airway; and the most constricted area of the airway. METHODS: Following reliability studies, in this retrospective study, we analyzed cone-beam computed tomography scans taken in both closed and open jaw positions of 60 subjects who were undergoing diagnosis and treatment of temporomandibular disorders. On each scan, condyle-fossa measurements, volumes of airway segments (nasal cavity, nasopharynx, oropharynx), soft palate areas, soft tissue thicknesses of the airway, and the most constricted area of the airway and its location were measured using Dolphin imaging software (version 11.5; Patterson Dental Supply, Chatsworth, Calif). Differences between the 2 jaw positions were analyzed with paired t tests, accepting P ≤0.05 as significant. RESULTS: Significant changes in airway dimensions were found between the closed and open jaw positions. With jaw opening, the nasopharynx volume increased, whereas the oropharynx volume decreased. Significant decreases were also found for measurements of basion to posterior airway wall, cervical vertebrae to posterior airway wall, most constricted area, nasal cavity volume, and soft palate area when the jaw was open. CONCLUSIONS: Changing jaw position significantly affects airway dimensions.
Authors: Sirwan Fernandez Gurani; Gabriele Di Carlo; Paolo M Cattaneo; Jens Jørgen Thorn; Else Marie Pinholt Journal: J Oral Maxillofac Res Date: 2016-03-31