ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate how airway changes influence facial growth during puberty in Korean children. METHODS: Thirty-six patients aged 9 to 11 (mean age: 10.7 years) were selected. Cephalograms and hand-wrist x-rays were taken at pre-treatment (T1) and post-treatment (T2). The sample was divided into narrow (5.2 - 8.6 mm, AW-Narrow), medium (8.9 - 11.5 mm, AW-Medium), and wide (11.7 - 16.0 mm, AW-Wide) groups according to the airway width at T1. Cephalometric measurements at T1, T2 and growth from T1 to T2 were compared between groups. RESULTS: The degree of increase in airway size in each group was 4.55 mm, 3.84 mm and 1.94 mm in the AW-Narrow, AW-Medium, and AW-Wide groups, respectively. Moreover, the differences were statistically significant. The significant smallest posterior facial height was found in the AW-Narrow group at T1. For the growth values from T1 to T2, the AW-Narrow group showed significantly larger values of PFH/AFH, facial axis, ANS (T1 - T2), and Gn (T1 - T2) than the AW-Medium group. CONCLUSIONS: The compensational changes in the airway width and facial growth were found in the narrow group. Surgical approach of the airway to prevent unfavorable facial growth in these years of age should be carried out, but with careful deliberation because these problems may be improved naturally.
