Page 97 - JCTR-10-1

Journal of Clinical and Translational Research 2024; 10(1): 93-98

Journal of Clinical and Translational Research

Journal homepage: http://www.jctres.com/en/home

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Three-dimensional analysis of pharyngeal airway volume in Class I, II,

and III malocclusion

Arkia Mardany , Alireza Naeimi Jafari , Alireza Khoshdel , Farzaneh Momeni , Nikan Mardany , Abdolreza Jamilian 1,5
4
1
3
1
2
2
1 Department of Orthodontic, Islamic Azad University Tehran Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, Department of Public Health, Islamic Azad University
Tehran Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran,
3
4 Department of Periodontics, School of Dentistry, Kermanshah University of Medical Science, Kermanshah, Iran, Department of Orthodontics, City of
5
London Dental School, University of Bolton, London, UK
ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT
Article history: Aim: This study aimed to evaluate pharyngeal airway dimensions using cone-beam computed
Received: September 08, 2023 tomography (CBCT) in patients with Class I, II, and III malocclusions and normal growth patterns.
Accepted: November 04, 2023 Methods: All CBCT images were categorized into three groups: Class I (0° < ANB < 4°, −1 mm
Published online: February 8, 2024 < Wits < 0 mm), Class II (ANB > 4°, Wits > 0 mm), and Class III (ANB < 0°, Wits < −1 mm).
CBCT images were obtained from individuals with normal growth patterns (32 ± 5° = GN/GO –
Keywords: SN), where GN represents gonion, GN is gnathion, and SN equates to the sella-nasion distance.
Cone-beam computed tomography Measurements were taken for total pharyngeal volume, velopharyngeal volume, glossopharyngeal
Skeletal pattern volume, and oropharyngeal volume, and the narrowest area of the airway was measured. ANOVA
Pharyngeal airway volume and Tukey’s post hoc test were used to compare the airway dimensions among skeletal classes I,
II, and III.
*Corresponding author: Results: The CBCT images were captured from 90 patients (45 males and 45 females) aged 17 to 39.
Abdolreza Jamilian The mean volume of the total pharyngeal airway, velopharyngeal, glossopharyngeal, and oropharyngeal
Module leader, City of London Dental School, and the most constricted area were significantly greater in patients with skeletal Class III malocclusion
University of Bolton, London, UK compared to patients with skeletal Class II malocclusion showing normal growth pattern. Total
Orthodontic Department, Islamic Azad pharyngeal airway, velopharyngeal, and oropharyngeal volumes were lower in Class II patients
University Tehran Medical Sciences, Tehran, compared to Class I and III patients with normal growth patterns. There was a significant difference
Iran in the pharyngeal space between males and females with Class II malocclusion. Pharyngeal space
Email: info@jamilian.net
in female Class II malocclusion was higher than that in males. There was no difference regarding
airway space between female and male patients with Class 1 malocclusion. Pharyngeal space between
© 2024 Author(s). This is an Open-Access females and males with Class III malocclusion showed no difference.
article distributed under the terms of the
Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial Conclusion: Class III pharyngeal volumes were generally larger in Class I and II malocclusions.
License, permitting all non-commercial use, Sex differences in the volumes of various pharyngeal spaces were only present in the case of Class II
distribution, and reproduction in any medium, malocclusions.
provided the original work is properly cited. Relevance for Patients: Class II pharyngeal volumes were generally smaller in Class I and III
malocclusions.

1. Introduction
Since the 19 century, there has been a significant focus on investigating the connection
th
between craniofacial morphology and respiratory function [1]. Numerous studies reviewed
in the literature have suggested that the transition from two-dimensional (2D) radiography to
three-dimensional (3D) cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) represents a dependable
and consistent approach capable of substituting conventional radiography [2-5].

DOI: https://doi.org/10.36922/jctr.23.00110