A Study on the Association between Skeletal Malocclusion, Upper Airway Cross-Sectional Area, and Upper Airway Volume Using CBCT Scans

Abstract The main aim of this study was to analyze the volume and area of the pharyngeal airway among different sagittal skeletal relationships. The secondary aim was to study the association between the upper airway volume and upper airway cross-sections among the three sagittal skeletal relationships. A retrospective study of 90 cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans of patients reporting for dental treatment to University Dental Hospital, Sharjah was conducted. Among the 90 CBCT scans, 30 scans were of patients with class I skeletal pattern, 30 with class II skeletal pattern, and 30 with class III skeletal pattern. The extract airway module of Romexis software 6.2.1 was used for segmentation of the upper airway. The maximum cross-sectional area (MACA), minimum cross-sectional area (MICA), cross-sectional area at the level of the hard palate cross-sectional area (PCA), and cross-sectional area at the level of the epiglottis cross-sectional area (ECA) of the airway way and volume (Vol) were obtained. There was a significant difference in the cross-sectional airway variables (MACA, MICA, ECA) and volume among patients with class I, II, and III skeletal malocclusion (p < 0.001). The PCA did not show any significant difference among the three study groups (p = 0.13). Patients with skeletal class II malocclusion had the lowest cross-sectional airway variables and volume values among all the study groups. The MICA of the airway was a reliable predictor for airway volume.