Upper airway dimensions and craniofacial morphology: A correlation study using cone beam computed tomography

Objectives: To search for correlation between dentoskeletal parameters related with Craniofacial Morphology and the Upper Airway (UA) Volume.Methods: Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) of 106 orthodontic patients were randomly selected.The dentoskeletal variables accessed with NemoFab ortho software were: ANB, Anterior Facial Height (AFH), Posterior Facial Height (PFH), Posterior/Anterior Facial Height ratio (PFH/AFH), Hyoid Position (HP), Maxillary Width (MW), and Palatal Depth (PD).The Upper Airway Volume (evaluation in anatomic regions and as a whole) was also accessed by the same software.At the same time, it is also intended to access possible differences between age and gender for the upper airway variables.The correlation between dentoskeletal parameters and the Upper Airway Volume was calculated with Pearsons Coefficient (R).ANOVA variance analysis and t-student test were performed to access differences between age and gender for upper airway variables.The statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS (version 26 for windows) software.Results: The present study showed that Posterior Facial Height, Anterior Facial Height and Maxillary Width were the dentoskeletal variables that presented more correlations with the upper airway.On the contrary, the ANB angle didn't present any significant correlation with the upper airway volume.Furthermore, differences for upper airway volumes were observed between age groups.Gender differences were found in both "8-12" and "≥16" age groups for Oropharynx and Pharynx volume.Conclusion: Overall, upper airway volume was significantly correlated with dentoskeletal parameters, in particular, with those related with facial vertical proportions and with transverse dimensions of the maxilla.