CORRELATION OF UPPER AIRWAY SPACE AND MAXILLARY INTERMOLAR WIDTH

Upper Airway Space and Maxillary Intermolar Width

Abstract

Objective: To access the relation between upper airway space and maxillary intermolar width.
Study Design: A descriptive study.Place and duration of Study: The study was carried out at the orthodontics department of Armed Forces Institute of Dentistry Rawalpindi.
Patients and Methods: The study was conducted at orthodontics department, Armed Forces Institute of Dentistry. Study casts and lateral cephalograms of 12 to 14 years old skeletal Class II patients with no previous history of orthodontic treatment or air way related surgery were included in the study. Upper airway space was measured on the cephalograms as described by McNamara Jr. Maxillary inter molar width was measured on the corresponding study casts using a digital caliper.
Results: Pearson’s correlation i.e r=0.18 showed a direct (r = 0.21) but insignificant (P > 0.05) correlation between upper airway space and maxillary intermolar width.
Conclusion: This study failed to show any correlation between maxillary intermolar width and upper airway space, as has been postulated by some researchers.