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Relationship between craniofacial and dental arch morphology with pharyngeal airway space in adolescents

Beziehung zwischen kraniofazialer und Zahnbogenmorphologie und pharyngealem Atemwegsraum bei Jugendlichen

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Abstract

Purpose

The aim of the study was to investigate a possible relationship between pharyngeal airway space, craniofacial variables, and dental arch form in adolescents grouped by sex.

Methods

This cross-sectional study included 108 adolescents aged between 12 and 17 years. Lateral cephalometric radiographs were used to analyze sagittal craniofacial variables and the pharyngeal airway space. For evaluation of the dental arch form, we used plaster models. Statistical analysis included Student’s t‑test and Pearson’s correlation coefficient (r).

Results

Maxillary length was directly proportional to upper nasopharyngeal airway dimensions in males (r = 0.312, p = 0.021) and females (r = 0.310, p = 0.022). In the female group, upper oropharyngeal measurements showed an inverse correlation with a labial inclination of the upper incisors (r = −0.415, p = 0.001), protrusion of the upper incisors (r = −0.364, p = 0.006), and soft palate thickness (r = −0.27, p = 0.043). In the male group, upper nasopharynx measurements showed an inverse correlation with soft palate thickness (r = −0.277, p = 0.042). The upper arch form appeared to be related to oropharyngeal measurements in females, while the lower arch form was related to oropharyngeal dimensions in males.

Conclusion

The findings suggest that there are sex-dependent correlations of the nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal airway space with the sagittal craniofacial morphology and the transversal dental arch form.

Zusammenfassung

Zielsetzung

Das Ziel der Studie war es, einen möglichen Zusammenhang zwischen pharyngealem Atemwegsraum, kraniofazialen Variablen und Zahnbogenform bei Jugendlichen, gruppiert nach Geschlecht, zu untersuchen.

Methoden

Die Querschnittsstudie umfasste 108 Jugendliche im Alter zwischen 12 und 17 Jahren. Laterale kephalometrische Röntgenaufnahmen wurden verwendet, um sagittale kraniofaziale Variablen und den pharyngealen Atemwegsraum zu analysieren, zur Beurteilung der Zahnbogenform Gipsmodelle. Die statistische Analyse umfasste den t‑Test nach Student und den Korrelationskoeffizienten nach Pearson (r).

Ergebnisse

Die Oberkieferlänge war direkt proportional zu den Abmessungen der oberen nasopharyngealen Atemwege bei Männern (r = 0,312; p = 0,021) und Frauen (r = 0,310; p = 0,022). In der weiblichen Gruppe zeigten die oberen oropharyngealen Messungen eine inverse Korrelation mit einer labialen Neigung der oberen Schneidezähne (r = −0,415; p = 0,001), einer Protrusion der oberen Schneidezähne (r = −0,364; p = 0,006) und der Stärke des weichen Gaumens (r = −0,27; p = 0,043). In der männlichen Gruppe zeigten Messungen des oberen Nasopharynx eine inverse Korrelation mit der Dicke des weichen Gaumens (r = −0,277; p = 0,042). Die obere Bogenform schien bei den weiblichen Probanden mit den oropharyngealen Abmessungen in Beziehung zu stehen, bei den männlichen Probanden dagegen stand die untere Bogenform mit den oropharyngealen Abmessungen in Beziehung.

Schlussfolgerung

Die Befunde deuten auf geschlechtsabhängige Korrelationen des nasopharyngealen und oropharyngealen Atemwegsraums mit der sagittalen kraniofazialen Morphologie und der transversalen Zahnbogenform hin.

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Funding

This work was supported by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) [Finance Code 001 and PROCAD grant 88881.357834/2019-01] and Research Support Foundation of Maranhão State (FAPEMA).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Dentistry, Federal University of Maranhão, São Luís, Brazil

    Izabel de Oliveira, Raysa Pinheiro, Benedito Freitas & Vandilson Rodrigues

  2. School of Dentistry and Oral Health, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia

    Peter Reher

  3. Department of Morphology, Federal University of Maranhão, São Luís, Brazil

    Vandilson Rodrigues

Authors
  1. Izabel de Oliveira
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  2. Raysa Pinheiro
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  3. Benedito Freitas
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  4. Peter Reher
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  5. Vandilson Rodrigues
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Contributions

All the authors have made substantial contributions to the study. I. de Oliveira, R. Pinheiro and V. Rodrigues: Project development, Study Design, Data collection, Data analysis, Manuscript writing. B. Freitas and P. Reher: Study Design, Data analysis, Manuscript writing.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Vandilson Rodrigues.

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Conflict of interest

I. de Oliveira, R. Pinheiro, B. Freitas, P. Reher and V. Rodrigues declare that they have no competing interests.

Ethical standards

This study was performed in line with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. The study was approved by Research Ethics Committee of the Federal University of Maranhão (CAAE: 72820317.3.0000.5086). Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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de Oliveira, I., Pinheiro, R., Freitas, B. et al. Relationship between craniofacial and dental arch morphology with pharyngeal airway space in adolescents. J Orofac Orthop 84 (Suppl 2), 93–103 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00056-022-00403-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00056-022-00403-9

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