title: Three-dimensional alterations in pharyngeal airway and maxillary sinus volumes in Class III maxillary deficiency subjects undergoing orthopedic facemask treatment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess short-term alterations in the volume of pharyngeal airway space and maxillary sinuses associated with rapid maxillary expansion (RME) and facemask (FM) use in growing Class III maxillary-deficient patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-two patients (14 girls, eight boys) treated with the RME/FM and having pretreatment and posttreatment cone beam-computed tomographic scans were identified from the archives of the Marmara University, Department of Orthodontics. According to the protraction force that was used, they were divided into two groups: a group with 400 g protraction force (12 subjects) and a group with 800 g protraction force (10 subjects). Mean age for the study group was 10 years. All patients were diagnosed with normal/low vertical growth pattern, maxillary deficiency, and normal mandible. No control group was available for this study. For each patient, a hyrax expansion screw with acrylic cap splint was constructed and RME was performed for 10 days. On the seventh day, protraction with a FM started.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed a statistically significant increase in the volume of maxillary sinuses after treatment, which was related to the growth. On the other hand, the increase in the volume of pharyngeal airway was not statistically significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  RME/FM treatment did not affect at all the volume of maxillary sinuses and actually inhibited the normal expected increase of the volume of the pharynx when compared with a control group comprising normal individuals.
authors.affiliation: a  Private Practice, Agrinio, Greece.
authors.forename: Paschalis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pamporakis
authors.forename: Şirin
authors.initials: Ş
authors.lastname: Nevzatoğlu
authors.forename: Nazan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Küçükkeleş
mesh_terms: D002508:Cephalometry / Q000379:methods; D002648:Child; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D005115:Extraoral Traction Appliances; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008313:Malocclusion, Angle Class III / Q000628:therapy*; D008443:Maxillary Sinus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D016382:Orthodontic Appliance Design; D010155:Palatal Expansion Technique / Q000295:instrumentation*; D010614:Pharynx / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D063173:Retrognathia / Q000628:therapy; D013314:Stress, Mechanical
keywords: 3D; Facemask; Maxillary sinuses; Pharyngeal airway space; Rapid palatal expansion