title: Changes in the oropharyngeal airway of Class II patients treated with the mandibular anterior repositioning appliance.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effects of functional appliance treatment on the oropharyngeal airway volume, airway dimensions, and anteroposterior hyoid bone position of growing Class II patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty Class II white patients (mean age, 11.7 ± 1.75 years) treated with the MARA followed by fixed appliances were matched to an untreated control sample by cervical vertebrae maturation stage at pretreatment (T1) and posttreatment (T2) time points. Cone beam computed tomography scans were taken at T1 and T2. Dolphin3D imaging software was used to determine oropharyngeal airway volume, dimensions, and anteroposterior hyoid bone position.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Multivariate ANOVA was used to evaluate changes between T1 and T2. Oropharyngeal airway volume, airway dimensions, and A-P position of the hyoid bone increased significantly with functional appliance treatment. SNA and ANB decreased significantly in the experimental group (P ≤ .05). Changes in SNB and Sn-GoGn failed to reach statistical significance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Functional appliance therapy increases oropharyngeal airway volume, airway dimensions, and anteroposterior hyoid bone position in growing patients.
authors.affiliation: a  Private Practice, Lathrup Village, Mich.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rizk
authors.affiliation: b  Professor, Department of Orthodontics, University of Detroit Mercy, Detroit, Mich.
authors.forename: Valmy Pangrazio
authors.initials: VP
authors.lastname: Kulbersh
authors.affiliation: c  Associate Professor, Department of Orthodontics, University of Detroit Mercy, Detroit, Mich.
authors.forename: Riyad
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Al-Qawasmi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002508:Cephalometry; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006928:Hyoid Bone / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008297:Male; D008312:Malocclusion, Angle Class II / Q000150:complications*; D008334:Mandible / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D009960:Oropharynx / Q000033:anatomy & histology*
keywords: Airway; Class II; Functional appliance; MARA; Obstructive sleep apnea