Effect of semi-rapid maxillary expansion in children with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome: 5-month follow-up study.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of semi-rapid maxillary expansion (SRME) orthodontic treatment on biomarkers and respiratory parameters in children with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) and maxillary transverse deficiency. METHODS: Thirty children with OSAS were included in this study. Fifteen children were enrolled as control, and 15 children were subjected to SRME orthodontic treatment method for 5 months. Beside respiratory parameters, pharyngeal area, dental arch, and postero-anterior widths and the levels of OSAS biomarkers in serum and urine were measured. RESULTS: Pharyngeal airway space, dental arch, and postero-anterior widths were increased after SRME treatment. Sleep tests showed a decrease in the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) after 5-month control/treatment duration. Serum kallikrein (KLK)1 levels decreased significantly in the treatment group. There was a significant increase in serum orosomucoid (ORM)2 levels and a decrease in urine perlecan levels in the control group after a 5-month follow-up. A significant negative correlation between serum ORM2, perlecan, gelsolin, and KLK1 levels and intercanin width, as well as between serum ORM2 and KLK1 levels and intermolar width, was observed. CONCLUSIONS: SRME treatment can be considered as a useful approach in children with OSAS. A further investigation of OSAS-related biomarkers and their relationship with sleep and orthodontic parameters is needed for providing easier and reliable modulatory strategies in the treatment of OSAS.

Evaluation of long-term soft tissue changes after bimaxillary orthognathic surgery in Class III patients.

OBJECTIVE: To assess soft tissues in the short and long term after bimaxillary surgery in Class III patients by comparing the hard tissue changes and results between time periods. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-six Class III adult patients treated with bimaxillary surgery were included in the study. Cephalometric records were taken before surgery (T1) and 5 months (T2), 1.4 years (T3), 3 years (T4), and 5 years (T5) after surgery. RESULTS: There was no significant relapse in skeletal parameters. Overjet was significantly reduced between T4-T3 time intervals (P < .01). There were significant increases in Sn-HR, ULA-HR, LLA-HR, B-B(∧) (P < .01), and B(∧)-HR (P < .05) between T4-T3 time intervals. There was no significant change in the soft tissue parameters between T5-T4 time intervals. CONCLUSION: Soft tissue vertical relapse occurs in skeletally stabile Class III bimaxillary surgery patients in the first 3 years after surgery.

Three-dimensional craniofacial morphology in unilateral cleft lip and palate.

Craniofacial morphology and asymmetry were compared before, during, and after puberty within and between patients with unilateral complete cleft lip and palate (UCCLP) and a non-cleft group. In the UCCLP group, the posterior cranial base and total cranial base were significantly shorter at all skeletal periods, the maxilla was significantly retruded and posteriorly rotated, and the mandible was significantly smaller and inferoposteriorly rotated. The angle between the nasal and mandibular plane and lower anterior facial height were significantly higher, and upper posterior facial height and total posterior height were significantly lower, in the UCCLP group. Except for an increase in the nasal cavity, no significant differences were detected in facial width. For all measurements, asymmetry on the horizontal plane was more significant than that on the vertical plane. Asymmetries in the UCCLP group were mostly detected during puberty. The UCCLP group had no distinctive mandibular asymmetry, as compared with the Class I group. In UCCLP patients, the cranial base, maxilla, and mandible were affected on the sagittal plane during all growth periods. However, horizontal asymmetries were mostly detected before and during puberty. Vertical asymmetries were less severe, and there was no distinctive mandibular asymmetry as compared with the Class I group. (J Oral Sci 56, 165-172, 2014).

Pharyngeal airway space, hyoid bone position, and head posture after bimaxillary orthognathic surgery in Class III patients: long-term evaluation.

OBJECTIVE: (1) To determine the effect of bimaxillary orthognathic surgery on pharyngeal airway, hyoid bone, and craniocervical posture in Class III bimaxillary surgery patients. (2) To evaluate short-term and long-term results. (3) To compare short- and long-term values. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-six Class III adult patients treated with bimaxillary surgery were included in the study. Cephalometric records were taken before treatment (T1), before surgery (T2), and 5 months (T3), 1.4 years (T4), 3 years (T5), and 5 years (T6) postsurgery. RESULTS: No significant differences were identified in craniocervical angulation between time intervals. There was a significant superior movement of hyoid bone at postsurgery (T3; P < .05); however, adaptation occurred to the normal position in the long term. A nonsignificant decrease occurred at the oropharyngeal middle pharyngeal distance parameter; however, this was compensated with a significant increase between T5 and T6 (P < .001). A significant decrease was observed in the hypopharyngeal Go-P parameter between T3 and T1 (P < .01), but it recovered with a nonsignificant increase in the long term. A significant increase in nasopharyngeal area was observed between T3 and T1 (P < .05). The hypopharyngeal area significantly increased between T5 and T6, and PNS-R significantly increased between T3 and T1 (P < .05). CONCLUSION: The pharyngeal areas adversely affected after surgery recover at long-term follow-up; thus, adaptation occurs after bimaxillary surgery.