Changes in upper airway width associated with Class II treatments (headgear vs activator) and different growth patterns.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the upper airways for anteroposterior width against different growth patterns and for alterations during various Class II treatments.


METHODS
Cephalograms from three treatment groups (headgear, activator, and bite-jumping appliance) were evaluated by a single investigator at baseline and at the end of orthodontic treatment. Cephalograms were used to determine upper airway width at different levels in the anteroposterior plane. Patients in the headgear group were additionally divided into six subsets on the basis of y-axis values to assess the influence of different growth patterns.


RESULTS
Small increases in pharyngeal width were noted at all vertical level segments, both at baseline and during orthodontic treatments. No significant differences in these small increases were noted across various treatment modalities and growth patterns.


CONCLUSIONS
Upper airway changes did not significantly vary with the different treatment modalities investigated in the present study. Nevertheless, reductions in pharyngeal width potentially triggering or exacerbating obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) are always possible in the headgear phase.
Department of Orthodontics, Eberhard-Karls-Universität, Tübingen, Germany. arnim.godt@med.uni-tuebingen.de
Arnim
A
Godt
Bernd
B
Koos
Hanno
H
Hagen
Gernot
G
Göz
D000202:Activator Appliances / Q000009:adverse effects; D002508:Cephalometry; D002648:Child; D005115:Extraoral Traction Appliances / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008312:Malocclusion, Angle Class II / Q000628:therapy*; D008445:Maxillofacial Development; D009305:Nasopharynx / Q000473:pathology*; D009972:Orthodontics, Interceptive / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000209:etiology*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014716:Vertical Dimension
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