Comparison of upper and lower pharyngeal airway space in class II high and low angle cases

ABSTRACT

Normal airway is one of the important factors for the normal growth of the craniofacial structures. Skeletal features such as retrusion of the maxilla and mandible and vertical maxillary excess in hyperdivergent patients may lead to narrower anteroposterior dimensions of the airway. The purpose of this study was to compare the widths of the upper and lower pharyngeal airways in Class II malocclusion patients with low and high vertical growth patterns. The sample comprised sixty five class II subjects divided into 2 groups thirty three Class II high angle and thirty two Class II low angle. The upper and lower pharyngeal airways were assessed according to McNamara's airways analysis. Independent t-test was used to compare upper and lower airway space in Class II high and low growth patterns. Independent t-test showed a statistically significant difference [p < 0.05] in upper and lower airway space between the two groups, showing that in class II high angle cases, both upper and lower airway space is narrow than in low angle cases. Subjects with Class II malocclusions and vertical growth patterns have significantly narrower upper and lower pharyngeal airways than those with Class II malocclusions and horizontal growth patterns. Narrow pharyngeal airway is one of the predisposing factors for mouth breathing and Obstructive sleep apnoea [OSA]