Airway changes in relationship to mandibular posturing.
Comparison of posterior airway space was evaluated radiographically on patients with sleep apnea in a mandibular reposed position vs. a mandibular protruded position. This was performed at the Santa Barbara Sleep Disorders Medical Center to simulate the effect of anterior orthotic appliances on these patients. The overall effect of forward mandibular posturing was a mean increase of posterior airway space (PAS) by approximately 56%, but wide variations were seen.
Johnson
L M
LM
Center for Corrective Jaw Surgery, Santa Barbara, CA 93101.
Arnett
G W
GW
Tamborello
J A
JA
Binder
A
A
D002508:Cephalometry; D006801:Humans; D008334:Mandible / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D009989:Orthotic Devices; D012123:Pulmonary Ventilation; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology