A retrospective cephalometric study on pharyngeal airway space changes after rapid palatal expansion and Herbst appliance with or without skeletal anchorage

• Published in: Progress in orthodontics 2016-09, Vol.17 (1), p.29-29, Article 29
• Main Authors: Manni, Antonio, Pasini, Marco, Giuca, Maria Rita, Morganti, Riccardo, Cozzani, Mauro
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Airway space; Anatomic Landmarks - diagnostic imaging; Anatomy, Cross-Sectional; Cephalometry - methods; Child; Class II treatment; Dentistry; Female; Humans; Hypopharynx - anatomy & histology; Hypopharynx - diagnostic imaging; Male; Malocclusion, Angle Class II - therapy; Mandible; Maxilla; Medicine; Nasal Bone; Oropharynx - anatomy & histology; Oropharynx - drug effects; Orthodontic Appliance Design; Orthodontic Appliances; Orthodontic Appliances, Functional; Palatal Expansion Technique - instrumentation; Palate; Pharynx - anatomy & histology; Pharynx - diagnostic imaging; Retrospective Studies; Skeletal anchorage
• ISSN: 2196-1042; 1723-7785; 2196-1042
• DOI: 10.1186/s40510-016-0141-1

Background The aim of this study is to investigate the pharyngeal airway space changes in patients treated with rapid palatal expansion (RPE) and Herbst appliance with or without skeletal anchorage. Methods A 40-patient study group treated with the Herbst RME combination was included; moreover, a comparison between two subgroups based on whether miniscrews were used was evaluated. A subgroup 1 included 20 patients who were treated with RPE and an acrylic splint Herbst with miniscrews, and subgroup 2 included 20 patients who were treated with RPE and an acrylic splint Herbst. A cephalometric analysis was performed before (T1) and after (T2) treatment. The skeletal parameters of the sagittal occlusion analysis of Pancherz were utilized together with some extra measurements to evaluate the airways. Results An increased nasopharyngeal airway space was observed in group 1 ( p