Upper airway expansion after rapid maxillary expansion evaluated with cone beam computed tomography

Abstract

Objective: Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) is a reliable method of assessing the oral cavity and upper airways. We conducted this study to examine the changes introduced by rapid maxillary expansion in the nasal cavity, nasopharynx, and oropharynx as seen with images obtained by CBCT. Materials and Methods: We evaluated 15 patients with maxillary width deficiency treated with RME. Patients were subjected to CBCT at the beginning of RME and after the retention period of 4 months. Results: The nasal cavity presented a significant transverse increase in the lower third, in the anterior (1.08 mm 6 0.15), medium (1.28 mm 6 0.15), and posterior regions (0.77 mm 6 0.12). No significant change occurred in the nasopharynx in volume (P 5 .11), median sagittal area (P 5 .33), or lower axial area (P 5 .29) resulting from the RME. A significant change was noted in the oropharynx in volume (P 5 .05), median sagittal area (P 5 .01), and lower axial area (P 5 .04) before and immediately after the RME. Conclusions: RME is able to increase the transverse width of the nasal cavity, but it does not have the same effect in the nasopharynx. Changes noted in the oropharynx may be due to the lack of a standardized position of the head and tongue at the time of image acquisition. (Angle Orthod. 2012;82:458-463.)

Alveolar bone changes after asymmetric rapid maxillary expansion

“…CBCT technology has many advantages compared with tomography, especially conventional radiographic imaging. 17,24,25 Leung et al 26 showed that alveolar bone height and thickness can be measured quantitatively with great accuracy, with more than 0.870 correlations. Sun et al 23 observed that decreasing the voxel size from 0.40 mm to 0.25 mm could improve the accuracy of alveolar bone linear measurement from the CBCT images.…”

Evaluation of mandibular condyles in children with unilateral posterior crossbite

“…Prior to measuring the mandibular condyle dimensions, images were standardized according to the cranial positioning orientation. 13 In Figure 1, the axial plan coincides with the orbital points; in the side images, the coronal plan coincides with the Porion (Po), in the left and right sides, and the axial plan is superimposed to the Frankfurt plan; the median sagittal plan unites the Nasion (N) and the anterior nasal spine (ANS).…”

“…This imaging technique allows both linear and a volumetric measurement of the structures described and has high accuracy. 12,13 The aim of this study was to evaluate if the presence of unilateral posterior crossbite in children during the mixed dentition period could lead to alterations in dimensional mandibular condyles. This was performed by CBCT.…”

Correction of Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome with Interdisciplinary Medical and Dental Treatment Planning

“…[18][19][20][21][22][23][24]26 Furthermore, the 3D image is more reliable than 2D to assess all the head and neck structures as well as the upper airways, and it can be useful to and serve a large multi-professional group. [27][28][29][30][31] The objective of this research was to verify the differences in the volume and areas of the UA among children with OSA who have had adenotonsillectomy but continue to have persistent OSA, and a control group of healthy children, in order to plan the best orthodontic treatment.…”