No abstract

This study examined the effects of rapid palatal expansion (RPE) and maxillary protraction headgear therapy in 18 patients with a skeletal Class III malocclusion (11 girls and seven boys; mean age 10.9 years) on upper airway dimensions compared with an untreated control group (nine girls and eight boys; mean age 10.9 years). Pre- and post-treatment cephalometric radiographs were traced and analysed at similar time intervals. The average treatment time was 6.94 +/- 0.56 months. Wilcoxon's test was used for intragroup comparisons and the Mann-Whitney U-test for intergroup comparisons. A significant increase occurred in the maxillary forward position. Mandibular forward movement and downward and backward rotation were inhibited. In addition, the upper incisors were proclined (P < 0.001), and the lower incisors were significantly retroclined (P < 0.05). When the treatment and control groups were compared, the upper airway linear measurements (pns-ad1, pns-ad2, APW-PPW, APW'-PPW') and the nasopharyngeal area had increased in the treatment group. These results demonstrated that maxillary expansion together with protraction of the maxilla improved naso- and oropharyngeal airway dimensions in the short term.

No abstract

The data presented in this study may help plastic surgeons and orthodontists objectively determine the relationships between facial structures for different face types. Additionally, the facial anthropometric norms derived from this study may be useful in the treatment of Turkish patients.

The aim of this study was to determine the cephalometric changes in subjects with Class III malocclusions after rapid palatal expansion (RPE) and facemask treatment. The 30 subjects presented with developing Class III malocclusions. The treatment group comprised 15 patients (eight girls and seven boys, mean age 11 years 6 months) who had undergone RPE and facemask therapy. The control group consisted of nine girls and six boys with a mean age of 11 years 8 months. Radiographs were take at the same time intervals for both groups, and the average treatment time was 15 months. A Wilcoxon test was used to determine significant differences before and after treatment, and a Mann-Whitney U-test to analyse differences between the treatment and control groups. In the sagittal plane, significant changes were observed in both groups. In the treatment group, the following dimensions increased significantly: A perpendicular to FHp (P < 0.001), ANS-PNS (P < 0.01), 6 perpendicular to FHp (P < 0.05); in the control group Go-Gn (P < 0.05) increased significantly. In the treatment group, SN/Go-Gn and SN/ANS-PNS had higher values and this finding was significant (P < 0.05). Managing developing Class III malocclusions with RPE and maxillary protraction presents favourable results, such as vertical and sagittal displacement of point A.

The characteristic craniofacial features of HED patients are class III malocclusion with maxillary retrusion and deficiency in vertical, transversal and sagittal growth of the jaw and soft tissues. HED patients have smaller pharyngeal and upper airway dimensions, and the hyoid bone is positioned more posteriorly compared with class III control individuals.

No abstract

The aim of this retrospective study was to examine hyoid bone position and C1 (atlas) morphology in males and females and analyze these parameters with respect to different sagittal skeletal patterns via cephalometry, with the goal of identifying cephalometric norms. Lateral cephalometric radiographs from 120 individuals (average age: 21.1 ± 2.9 years) were classified according to their ANB angle (Class I, II, or III) and used to assess 14 parameters. Class I and II patients showed significant differences in Hy-NSL, Hy-PD, Hy-CVT, Lum, and a-p measurements. These parameters were consistently larger in males than in females. Intergroup comparisons among males showed significant differences in the SNA, ANB, Hy-CVT, X, and Z measurements. The hyoid was positioned more inferiorly and anteriorly and was more prominent in males than in females in all groups. Among participants exhibiting a Class I skeletal pattern, C1 was also larger in the anterior-posterior direction in males than in females. In the sagittal plane, the hyoid was positioned similarly in males with either Class I or III skeletal patterns but was positioned posteriorly in males with a Class II skeletal pattern. In addition, the vertical position of C1 varied with sagittal skeletal pattern in males.