ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was assessment of the relationship between airway space and facial morphology in Class III children with nasal obstruction. METHODS: For this study, 100 Class III children (50 boys and 50 girls) were chosen. All subjects were refered to ENT, due to nasal obstruction. Airway space measurements and facial morphology measurements were measured on lateral cephalometric radiograph. Pearson correlation analysis was used to assess the relationship between airway space and facial morphology. RESULTS: Ramal height, SNA, SNB, PFH, FHR and facial plane angle were positively related to upper PAS, and sum of saddle angle, articular angle, and gonial angle, SN-GoGn, Y-axis to SN and FMA negatively related to upper PAS. Gonial angle, FMA were positively related to lower PAS, and articular angle, facial depth, PFH and FHR negatively related to lower PAS. PCBL, ramal height, Mn. body length, Mn. body length to ACBL, facial depth, facial length, PFH and AFH were positively related to tonsil size. Sum of saddle angle, articular angle, gonial angle, facial length, AFH, FMA and LFH were positively related to tongue gap, and IMPA and overbite was negatively related to tongue gap. Upper PAS, related to size of adenoid tissue, was mainly related to posterior facial dimension following a vertical growth pattern of face and mandibular rotation. Lower PAS and tonsil size, related to anterior-posterior tongue base position, were significantly related to each other. Lower PAS was related to growth pattern of mandible, and tonsil size was related to size of mandible and horizontal growth pattern of face. Tongue gap was related to anterior facial dimension following a vertical growth pattern of face. CONCLUSION: Significant relationship exists between airway space and facial morphology.
