ASSOCIATION OF CRANIOFACIAL MORPHOLOGY WITH AIRWAY DIMENSION AND VOLUME

Abstract

Objective: To compare upper airway volume, lower airway volume and total airway volume between the Class II Division 1 and Class II Division 2 individuals, using Cone Beam Computed Tomography scans.

Study Design: Cross-sectional analytical study.

Place and Duration of Study: Orthodontics department, Armed Forces Institute of Dentistry, Rawalpindi, from Jan 2017 to Dec 2018.

Methodology: It was a cross-sectional study in which a comparison between upper airway volume, lower airway volume and total airway volume was drawn between the Class II Division 1 and Class II Division 2 individuals, using Cone Beam Computed Tomography scans. Independent sample t test was applied for testing the statistical significance between mean scores of the groups.

Results: Results suggested that difference among upper and lower airway volumes among the two groups was statistically significant. Upper airway in Division 1 group was 8870.02 ± 454.53mm3 as compared Division II 9402.00 ± 80.76 mm3, with a p-value of 0.04 and lower airway in Division 1 group was 8368.35 ± 41.18mm3 as compared Division II, 8773.52 ± 185.847mm3, with a p-value of 0.04. Whereas total airway volume showed an insignificant difference with Division I having a total volume of 8368.35 ± 412.18 mm3 and Division II, 8773.52 ± 185.85 mm3 with a p-value of 0.75.

Conclusion: Class II generally has lesser airway volumes as compared to other facial forms. Among class II, Division 2 profile has greater values of upper and lower airway volumes when compared to Division and total airway volumes are not statistically different among Division 1 and 2.