title: Cephalometric study of the upper airways and dentoalveolar height in open bite patients.
abstract: Open bite is related to various etiological factors and, in many cases, is difficult to diagnose. The present study is aimed at evaluating, through cephalometric analysis, the dimensions of the upper airways and dentoalveolar heights in open bite (OB) patients versus normal overbite patients. The relationship between the width of the upper airways and the lack of overbite is also studied, in order to differentiate between dental open bite (DOB) and skeletal open bite (SOB).
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty X-rays were selected from files of orthodontic patients to form the control sample (n=40) and open bite sample (n=40). Dimensions of the upper airways and dentoalveolar heights were measured in both samples, using 16 linear measurements, two angle values and one ratio.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In OB patients, anteroposterior narrowing of the upper airways, mainly in the nasopharynx and oropharynx, was observed, together with forward displacement of the hyoid bone and increased maxillary and mandibular dentoalveolar heights, and anterior facial height. In SOB, the overbite was more negative and facial growth was more clockwise-oriented than in DOB. Greater narrowing of the airways in the anteroposterior orientation was also noted. In DOB, there was evidence of muscular adaptation, as shown by increased values of the hyoid bone displacement to a more anterior and lower position, and increased values of the vertical dimensions of the airways. An increase in posterior facial height was also observed allowing anterior rotation of the mandible.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that the airway's dimensions reflect a tendency to open bite. The variable vertical airway length (Val) and the position of the hyoid bone allow the adaptive potential of these individuals to be determined and make the treatment of open bites more predictable.
authors.affiliation: Instituto Superior de Ciências da Saúde-Norte, CESPU, Portugal.
authors.forename: Filipe
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Laranjo
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigação e Formação Avançada em Ciências e Tecnologias da Saúde (IINFACTS), CESPU; Department of Orthodontics, Instituto Superior de Ciências da Saúde-Norte, CESPU, Rua Central de Gandra, 1317 4585-116 Gandra PRD, Portugal. Electronic address: teresa.pinho@iscsn.cespu.pt.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pinho
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000502:physiology; D000293:Adolescent; D000539:Alveolar Process / Q000473:pathology*; D002508:Cephalometry / Q000379:methods*; D005145:Face / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006928:Hyoid Bone / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000473:pathology; D008437:Maxilla / Q000473:pathology; D008445:Maxillofacial Development / Q000502:physiology; D009305:Nasopharynx / Q000473:pathology; D009334:Neck Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology; D024343:Open Bite / Q000473:pathology*; D009960:Oropharynx / Q000473:pathology; D010614:Pharynx / Q000473:pathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012399:Rotation; D014070:Tooth / Q000473:pathology*; D014716:Vertical Dimension; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Anterior open bite; Cephalometry; Dentoalveolar height; Upper airways