The impact of mandibular advancement on the upper airway patterns--cephalometric study

The aim of the presented study was to assess the impact of mandibular advancement on the upper airways patterns, on the position of soft palate, hyoid bone and tongue. The set of 12 patients who underwent bilateral sagittal split osteotomy advancement surgery only, without genioplasty, for correction of retromandibularism (skeletal class II malocclusions) was evaluated. Rigid internal fixation was used in all the patients without rigid intermaxillary fixation. Measurements were taken in cephalograms obtained after the orthodontic decompensation and immediately after the surgery. In the set of patients who underwent advancement of the mandible the air passage of upper airways at the level of oropharynx was recorded and significant improvement was proved.