Relationship between the morphology of oropharyngeal airway and craniofacial morphology in high angle patient

To investigate the relationship between the morphology of oropharyngeal airway and craniofacial morphology in high angle patient by cone beam CT images.

CBCT images of 60 high-angle adult patients were randomly selected in the Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Nanchang University. The line distances, volumes and min cross-sectional areas of each part of oropharyngeal airway were measured by the Invivo Dental 5.1 software. Pearson correlations analysis of all measurements was performed on all the parameters of oropharyngeal airway and maxillofacial structures.

In male group, SNB showed positive correction with UTL, PPV, GPV, OPV, MinS. Thereas the GoGn-SN angle showed negative correction with UTL, ETL, PPV, GPV, OPV, MinS, S-Go/N-Me was positive correlated with UTL. In female group, SNA showed negative correction with PNSW. The SNB angle showed negative correction with GPH、PNSW、UTW, GoGn-SN showed positive correction with GPH.

In high angle adults, the morphology of oropharyngeal airway exist some degrees of correlation with the maxillofacial structures. In male group, the dimension of the oropharyngeal airway tend to increase with the forward of mandible, and tend to decrease or obstruct with the clockwise rotation of mandible. In female group, with the changes of position of maxilla and mandible, oropharyngeal airway showed only partial morhological change.