Evaluation of Upper Airway Growth Patterns With Cephalometric Analysis Based on Cervical Vertebral Maturation in the Japanese: A Cross-Sectional Study

Objective This study aims to establish standard values for the upper airway cross-sectional area and evaluate growth patterns using the cervical vertebral maturation stage (CVMS) in a Japanese population. Methods A cross-sectional sample of 400 patients, aged 6-20 years, was selected randomly from the Orthodontic Clinic at Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU) dental hospital. Cervical vertebral maturation stages (CVMS I-V) guided the classification of participants into five equal groups. Lateral cephalometric radiographs taken prior to orthodontic treatment were used to measure the upper airway's cross-sectional area. The growth spurt and sex differences in growth patterns were assessed through these measurements. Results Standard values for the upper airway dimensions at each CVMS stage were established. Significant growth spurts were noted between CVMS II-III and CVMS III-IV in males and at CVMS II-III in females. The weighted kappa coefficient (κ) demonstrated almost perfect intra- and inter-evaluator agreement, confirming the reliability of CVMS in growth assessment. Conclusion CVMS provides a reliable framework for assessing growth patterns of the upper airway, with distinct variations between sexes noted. These findings support the utility of CVMS in clinical growth evaluation and orthodontic treatment planning.