• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.344-352
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• 2017

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the changes induced in the pharyngeal airway space by orthodontic treatment with bodily retraction of the mandibular incisors and mandibular setback surgery without extraction. Methods: This retrospective study included 63 adult patients (32 men and 31 women). Thirty-three patients who had been treated via four-bicuspid extraction and bodily retraction of the mandibular incisors (incisor retraction, IR group) were compared with 30 patients who had been treated via mandibular setback surgery (MS group) without extraction. Lateral cephalograms were acquired and analyzed before (T1) and after treatment (T2). Results: The superior pharyngeal airway space did not change significantly in either group during treatment. The middle pharyngeal airway space decreased by $1.15{\pm}1.17mm$ and $1.25{\pm}1.35mm$ after treatment in the IR and MS groups, respectively, and the decrease was comparable between the two groups. In the MS group, the inferior pharyngeal airway space (E-IPW) decreased by $0.88{\pm}1.67mm$ after treatment (p < 0.01). The E-IPW was larger in the MS group than in IR group at T1, but it did not differ significantly between the two groups at T2. No significant correlation was observed between changes in the pharyngeal airway space and the skeletal and dental variables in each group. Conclusions: The middle pharyngeal airway space decreased because of the posterior displacement of the mandibular incisors and/or the mandibular body. The E-IPW decreased only in the MS group because of the posterior displacement of only the mandibular body.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.164-171
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• 2000

Purpose : This study was aimed at measuring the changes in the hyoid bone position, tongue position, and pharyngeal airway space in subjects with mandibular setback osteotomies. Methods : Twenty patients were evaluated retrospectively for their changes in pharyngeal airway space, tongue and hyoid bone positions. All patients underwent surgical mandibular setback using bilateral sagittal split osteotomies. The cephalometric analysis was performed preoperatively, and 1 week, 3-6 months, and 1 year postoperatively. Result : The hyoid bone moved inferiorly and posteriorly immediately after surgery, and it returned to the preoperative position during follow-up period. The nasopharyngeal airway space was not significantly changed after surgery. A considerable decrease in the oropharyngeal and hypopharyngeal airway spaces following mandibular setback surgery was found. The upper and lower tongue was posteriorly repositioned immediately after surgery. During follow-up period, the hypopharyngeal airway space and lower tongue posture returned to the preoperative positions, but the oropharyngeal airway space and upper tongue posture were not significantly changed. The position of pogonion remarkably changed to backward immediately after surgery, but slightly anterior advancement was found during follow-up period. Conclusion : Immediately after mandibular setback surgery, the oropharyngeal and hypopharyngeal airway spaces obviously decreased due to posterior and inferior repositions of the tongue and hyoid bone. During follow-up period, lower tongue and hyoid bone returned to the preoperative positions, it was related to advancement of the pogonion in this period. The narrowing of the oropharyngeal airway space and posterior movement of the upper tongue posture were relatively permanent after mandibular setback surgery. We suspected this phenomenon had an influence on maintaining the total volume of oral cavity against mandibular setback.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.39
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• pp.3.1-3.9
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• 2017

Background: The purpose of the study is to compare the effects on the pharyngeal airway space of skeletal anchored face mask with those of tooth-borne facemask. Methods: We used two types of facemask for maxillary protraction, the tooth-borne facemask (TBFM) and the skeletal anchored facemask (SAFM), and evaluated the effects of each facemask on the pharyngeal airway. Twenty-eight patients (mean age 10.3 years) were treated with the TBFM and 24 patients (mean age 11.2 years) were treated with the SAFM. Lateral cephalometric radiographs were taken before treatment (T1) and after treatment (T2) to assess changes in the dimensions of the upper airway. Statistical analysis was performed with independent t tests, matched t tests, Mann-Whitney U tests, and Kruskal-Wallis tests. Results: There were marked increases in upper airway dimensions in both groups following treatment, but the SAFM group had a significantly greater increase in airway dimensions than the TBFM group. Also, the SAFM subgroups showed more improved airway measurements than the TBFM subgroups in both the superior and inferior pharyngeal airways. Conclusions: SAFM is more effective than TBFM in increasing upper airway dimensions.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.166-178
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• 2021

Objective: To investigate dimensional changes in regional pharyngeal airway spaces after premolar extraction in bimaxillary skeletal protrusion (BSP) patients according to vertical skeletal pattern, and to further identify dentoskeletal risk factors to predict posttreatment pharyngeal changes. Methods: Fifty-five adults showing BSP treated with microimplant anchorage after four premolar extractions were included in this retrospective study. The subjects were divided into two groups according to the mandibular plane steepness: hyperdivergent (Frankfort horizontal plane to mandibular plane [FH-MP] ≥ 30) and nonhyperdivergent groups (FH-MP < 30). The control group consisted of 20 untreated adults with skeletal Class I normodivergent pattern and favorable profile. Treatment changes in cephalometric variables were evaluated and compared. The association between posttreatment changes in the dentoskeletal and upper airway variables were analyzed using linear regression analysis. Results: The BSP patients showed no significant decrease in the pharyngeal dimensions to the lower level in comparison with controls, except for middle airway space (MAS, p < 0.01). The upper airway variable representing greater decrease in the hyperdivergent group than in the nonhyperdivergent group was the MAS (p < 0.01). Posttreatment changes in FH-MP had negative correlation with changes in MAS (β = -0.42, p < 0.01) and inferior airway space (β = -0.52, p < 0.01) as a result of multivariable regression analysis adjusted for sagittal skeletal relationship. Conclusions: Decreased pharyngeal dimensions after treatment in BSP patients showed no significant difference from the normal range of pharyngeal dimensions. However, the glossopharyngeal airway space may be susceptible to treatment when vertical dimension increased in hyperdivergent BSP patients.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.121-132
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• 2008

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the upper airway dimensional change according to maxillary superior movement after orthognathic surgery and to identify the relationship between the amount of maxillary movement and upper airway dimensional changes. Methods: The samples consisted of 24 adult patients (9 males and 15 females) who had a skeletal discrepancy and had received presurgical orthodontic treatment. They underwent Le Fort I superior impaction osteotomy and mandibular setback surgery. Cephalometric x-rays were taken at 3 stages - T0 (before orthognathic surgery), T1 (just or within 2 weeks after orthognathic surgery), T2 (6 months after surgery) Results: 1, Pharyngeal airway space (PAS (R)-nasopharynx) was decreased after surgery (T1) but recovered at 6 months after surgery; 2, Pharyngeal airway space (PAS (NL)-palatal plane) was increased after surgery and at 6 months after surgery; 3, Pharyngeal airway space (PAS (OL)-occlusal plane) was increased at T1 and was decreased at T2; 4, Soft palate thickness was increased at T1 but it became the same or thinner at T2; 5, There is no statistically significant relation between the amount of maxillary superior movement and pharyngeal airway space. Conclusions: These findings suggested that the maxillary superior movement of about an average of $4.40{\pm}1.14 mm$ did not affect upper pharyngeal airway space changes.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.224-231
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• 2015

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate changes in the pharyngeal airway space and hyoid bone position after mandibular setback surgery with bilateral sagittal split ramus osteotomy (BSSRO) and to analyze the correlation between the amount of mandibular setback and the amount of change in pharyngeal airway space or hyoid bone position. Materials and Methods: From January 2010 to February 2013, a total of 30 patients who were diagnosed with skeletal class III malocclusion and underwent the same surgery (BSSRO) and fixation method in the Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Department of Dentistry at the Ajou University School of Medicine (Suwon, Korea) were included in this study. Lateral cephalograms of the 30 patients were assessed preoperatively (T1), immediately postoperatively (T2), and 6 months postoperatively (T3) to investigate the significance of changes by time and the correlation between the amount of mandibular setback and the amount of change in the airway space and hyoid bone position. Results: Three regions of the nasopharynx, oropharynx, and hypopharynx were measured and only the oropharynx showed a statistically significant decrease (P<0.01). A significant posterior and inferior displacement of the hyoid bone was found 6 months after surgery (P<0.01). Analysis of the correlation between the amount of mandibular setback and the amount of final change in the airway space and hyoid bone position with Pearson's correlation showed no significant correlation. Conclusion: In this study, the oropharynx significantly decreased after mandibular setback surgery, and changes in the surrounding structures were identified through posteroinferior movement of the hyoid bone during long-term follow-up. Therefore, postoperative obstructive sleep apnea should be considered in patients who plan to undergo mandibular setback surgery, and necessary modifications to the treatment plan should also be considered.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.401-406
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate changes in the position of the hyoid bone and soft palate and the amount of airway space after bilateral sagittal split ramus osteotomy (B-SSRO). Methods: This study is a review of lateral cephalometric tracings of 30 patients who underwent B-SSRO with setbacks at Kyunghee Dental Hospital from 2005 to 2009. Lateral cephalograms were taken before (T0), within one month (T1), and more than six months after the surgery (T2). Results: The hyoid bone at T1 changed significantly towards the inferoposterior position. At T2, it had significantly moved superiorly, but not anteriorly. At T1, the nasopharyngeal space, extending from the posterior nasal spine to the posterior pharyngeal space, decreased significantly, but did not show a significant increase at T2. The nasopharyngeal space, extending from the middle of soft palate to the posterior pharyngeal space, decreased significantly at T1, but did not show a significant decrease at T2. The oropharyngeal airway space decreased significantly at T1 and did not return to its original position at T2. The hypopharyngeal space, extending from the anterior to the posterior pharyngeal space at the level of the most anterior point of the third cervical vertebrae, slightly decreased at T1, but the amount was insignificant; however, the amount of decrease at T2 was significant. The hypopharyngeal space extending from the anterior to the posterior pharyngeal space at the level of the lowest point of the third cervical vertebrae, decreased significantly at T1 but returned to its original position at T2. Conclusion: B-SSRO changes the position of the hyoid bone and muscles inferoposteriorly. These change allows enough space for the tongue and prevent airway obstruction. Airway changes may be related to post-operative edema, posterior movement of the soft palate, anteroposterior movement of the hyoid bone, or compensation for decreased oral cavity volume. The position of the pogonion which measures anterior relapse after surgery did not show significant differences during the follow-up period.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.136-145
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• 2009

Objective: CBCT has become popular for orthodontic diagnosis and treatment planning in recent times. The 3D pharyngeal airway space needs to be analysed using a 3D diagnostic tool. The aim of this study was to analyse the pharyngeal airway of different craniofacial morphology using CBCT. Methods: The sample compromised 102 subjects divided into 3 groups (Class I, II, III) and 6 subgroups according to normal or vertical craniofacial patterns. All samples had CBCT (VCT, Vatech, Seoul, Korea) taken for orthodontic treatment. The pharyngeal airway was assessed according to the reference planes: aa plane (the most anterior point on the anterior arch of atlas), $CV_2$ plane, and $CV_3$ plane (most infero-anterior point on the body of the second & third cervical vertebra). The intergroup comparison was performed with one-way ANOVA and duncan test as a second step. Results: The results showed the pharyngeal airway and anteroposterior width of group 2 (Class II) in aa plane, $CV_2$ plane, $CV_3$ plane were significant narrower than in group 3 (Class III). There was no significant difference between vertical and normal craniofacial patterns except for the anteroposterior pharyngeal width of Group 1 (Class I) in aa plane. Conclusions: Subjects with Class II patterns have a significantly narrower pharyngeal airway than those with Class III. However there was no difference in pharyngeal airway between vertical and normal craniofacial morphology.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.53 no.6
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• pp.358-364
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• 2023

Objective: This study aimed to three-dimensionally evaluate the pharyngeal airway space (PAS) of patients with anterior open bite (AOB) by using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and compare the findings with those obtained in individuals with normal occlusion. Methods: The open bite group (OBG, n = 25) consisted of patients with an anterior overbite of -3 mm or less, while the control group (n = 25) consisted of age- and sex-matched individuals with an anterior overbite of 1-3 mm, Angle Class I malocclusion (1° ≤ point A-nasion-point B angle ≤ 4°), and a normodivergent profile (22° ≤ Frankfort mandibular plane angle ≤ 28°). After the CBCT data were reconstructed into a three-dimensional image, the PAS was segmented into four parts, and the volume of each part was measured. Pharyngeal airway length (PAL) and the area and transverse width of the part showing minimal constriction were also measured. Pearson's correlation analysis was used to evaluate the correlation between changes in the PAS and the amount of anterior overbite. Results: The OBG showed a significantly narrower airway space in the nasopharyngeal, hypopharyngeal, and total airway volumes. The OBG also showed a significantly smaller area and transverse width of the part with minimal constriction. The OBG showed a significantly longer PAL, but there was no correlation between the amount of anterior overbite and the changes in PAS. Conclusions: The PAS was associated with AOB. Patients with AOB had a narrower PAS and a smaller part showing minimal constriction.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.238-248
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• 2020

Objective: To investigate the effects of the long-term use of a maxillary protraction facemask with miniplate (FM-MP) on pharyngeal airway dimensions in growing patients with cleft lip and palate (CLP). Methods: The study included 24 boys with CLP (mean age, 12.2 years; mean duration of FM-MP therapy, 4.9 years), divided into two groups according to the amount of A point advancement to the vertical reference plane (VRP): Group 1, > 4 mm; Group 2, < 2 mm; n = 12/group. After evaluating the skeletodental and airway variables using lateral cephalograms acquired before and after FM-MP therapy, statistical analyses were performed. Results: Group 1 showed greater forward and downward displacements of the posterior maxilla (posterior nasal spine [PNS]-horizontal reference plane [HRP]; PNS-VRP), greater increase in ANB, more forward tongue position (tongue tip-Pt vertical line to Frankfort horizontal plane), and greater increase in the oropharynx (superior posterior airway space [SPAS]; middle airway space [MAS]) and upper nasopharynx (PNS-adenoid2) than did Group 2. While maxillary advancement (A-VRP and PNS-VRP) correlated with increases in SPAS, MAS, and PNS-adenoid2, downward displacement of the PNS (PNS-HRP) correlated with increases in SPAS, MAS, PNS-adenoid1, and PNS-adenoid2, and with a decrease in vertical airway length (VAL). Mandibular forward displacement and decrease in mandibular plane correlated with increases in MAS. Conclusions: FM-MP therapy had positive effects on the oropharyngeal and nasopharyngeal airway spaces without increases in VAL in Group 1 rather than in Group 2. However, further validation using an untreated control group is necessary.