Sagittal airway dimensions following maxillary protraction: a pilot study

Area of Science:

• Orthodontics
• Craniofacial Development
• Airway Physiology

Background:

• Maxillary protraction therapy's impact on airway dimensions is less understood than its skeletal effects.
• Limited research exists on the combined effects of rapid palatal expansion (RPE) and maxillary protraction on airway dimensions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of RPE with maxillary protraction headgear on the sagittal airway dimension.
• To analyze changes in nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal airway dimensions following this combined orthodontic treatment.

Main Methods:

• A sample of 19 Class III patients with maxillary retrognathism underwent treatment with a cap splint RPE and Petit facemask.
• Treatment duration averaged 6.78 months, with pre- and post-treatment cephalometric radiographs analyzed.
• Key cephalometric landmarks and airway measurements (PNS-ad1, PNS-ad2) were evaluated.

Main Results:

• Maxillary protraction resulted in anterior movement of Point A and counter-clockwise rotation of the palatal plane.
• Mandibular rotation and a decrease in the SNB angle were observed, alongside increased vertical parameters.
• Nasopharyngeal airway measurements showed a statistically significant increase, while oropharyngeal dimensions did not show significant improvement.

Conclusions:

• Combined RPE and maxillary protraction therapy can improve nasopharyngeal airway dimensions in the short term for Class III patients.
• This orthodontic approach does not appear to significantly enhance oropharyngeal airway dimensions.
• Further research is needed to understand the long-term effects and potential limitations of this treatment on airway dimensions.