Upper airway sagittal dimensions in children with hyper-divergent class II/1 malocclusion

Abstract

Introduction/Objective Upper air dimensions are associated with morphological facial features. The objective of study is to test the hypothesis that the sagittal size of the upper respiratory pathways in children aged 8–12 years with hyperdivergent class II/1 malocclusion is smaller compared to the general population of the same age. This may be associated with an increased risk of developing obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in these individuals later in life.

Methods Using profile teleradiograms of 31 children average age being 9.02 ± 1 years with hyperdivergent class II/1 malocclusion, sagittal dimensions of the pharyngeal respiratory pathway at the levels of naso-, oro-, and hypopharynx were measured. These dimensions were compared with measurements from 35 children with an average age of 8.97 ± 0.6 years with other types of malocclusions.

Results Statistically significant smaller sagittal dimensions of the upper respiratory pathways were found in children with hyperdivergent class II/1 malocclusion compared to the general population of the same age at all three measured levels.

Conclusion The hypothesis was confirmed that in children with hyperdivergent class II/1 malocclusion, the dimensions of the pharyngeal respiratory pathways are significantly smaller compared to the general population of the same age. The width of the oropharynx contributes most to this difference, followed by the width of the nasopharynx, with the least contribution from the hypopharynx.

Keywords: upper airway size; pharynx; distal occlusion; malocclusion