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Can facial type be used to predict changes in hyoid bone position with age? A perspective based on longitudinal data
Eung-Kwon Pae1, Catherine Quas, Jodi Quas
1School of Dentistry, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1668, USA. epae@dent.ucla.edu
Summary
Hyoid bone position changes over time, particularly in individuals with long, narrow faces. These changes are not linked to age or weight but may impact airway collapse risk, especially in sleep apnea patients.
Area of Science:
- Anatomy
- Anthropology
- Sleep Medicine
Background:
- The hyoid bone's low position is linked to human speech but may increase airway collapse risk.
- While studied in sleep apnea patients, age-related hyoid bone position changes in the general adult population are not well-documented.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate longitudinal changes in hyoid bone position over 15 years.
- To determine if age, obesity, or facial morphology influence these changes.
Main Methods:
- Utilized lateral cephalometric radiographs from 163 white men (aged 30-72).
- Analyzed radiographs taken 15 years apart to track vertical hyoid bone position.
- Classified facial types based on mandibular angle steepness.
Main Results:
- Hyoid bone position changes were significant over 15 years.
- These changes were independent of age and obesity.
- Significant changes were observed in dolichofacial (long, narrow face) subjects, but not in brachyfacial (short, broad face) subjects.
Conclusions:
- Facial type, specifically mandibular morphology, influences hyoid bone position changes over time.
- Dolichofacial individuals experience more significant hyoid bone repositioning.
- This finding may be relevant to understanding obstructive sleep apnea, as a low hyoid bone is a characteristic of nonobese patients with severe cases.
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