Comparison of PAS and adenoids in patients with and without maxillary micrognathia before orthodontic treatment

Abstract

Objective Craniofacial anomalies are widely discussed as predisposing factors of breathing disorders. Since many more cofactors exist, this study investigated the association between maxillary micrognathia and morphological changes of posterior airway space and adenoids in these patients. Material and methods Cephalometric radiographs of n=73 patients were used for data acquisition. The patients were divided into two groups according to certain skeletal characteristics: maxillary micrognathia (n=34, 16 female, 18 male; mean age 10.55±3.03 years; defned by a SNA angle<79°) and maxillary eugnathia (n=39, 19 female, 20 male; mean age 10.93±3.26 years; defned by a SNA angle>79°). The evaluation included established procedures for measurements of the maxilla, posterior airway space and adenoids. Statistics included Kolmogorov–Smirnov-, T- and Mann–Whitney-U-Tests for the radiographs. The level of signifcance was set at p<0.05. Results The cephalometric analysis showed diferences in the superior posterior face height and the depth of the posterior airway space at palatal level among the two groups. The depth of the posterior airway space at mandibular level was the same for both groups, just as the size of the area taken by adenoids in the nasopharynx. Conclusions Skeletal anomalies afect the dimension of the posterior airway space. There were diferences among the subjects with maxillary micrognathia and these with a normal maxilla. However, the maxilla was only assessed in the sagittal direction, not in the transverse. This study showed that the morphology of the maxilla relates to the posterior airway space whereas the adenoids seem not to be afected. Clinical relevance Maxillary micrognathia is signifcantly associated with a smaller depth of the posterior airway space at the palatal level compared to patients with maxillary eugnathia.