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Three-dimensional evaluation of the pharyngeal airway using cone-beam computed tomography following bimaxillary orthognathic surgery in skeletal class III patients

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Abstract

Objective

The study aims to evaluate the pharyngeal airway space (PAS) following bimaxillary surgery in skeletal class III patients and to compare the changes in PAS between genders using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT).

Materials and methods

In all, 38 patients (16 male and 22 female) with skeletal class III malocclusion underwent bimaxillary surgery. CBCT scans were acquired approximately 1 month before surgery, 3 months after surgery, and 6 months after surgery. The oropharyngeal volume and the minimum cross-sectional area (CSA) were characterized using the InVivoDental imaging software package at each time point.

Results

The volume and minimum CSA decreased significantly postoperatively, which was maintained until 6 months postoperatively (p < 0.01). The location of the minimum CSA tended to move into the retropalatal and retroglossal areas postoperatively. A strong correlation between volume and minimum CSA was found. The amount of mandibular setback was not correlated with the change in the airway. By gender, significant decreases in both the volume and minimum CSA were found in females (p < 0.05) but not in males.

Conclusion

Bimaxillary surgery significantly affects PAS. Gender differences should also be considered when considering changes in PAS.

Clinical relevance

An awareness of the effects of bimaxillary setback surgery on the airway should be considered when implementing an orthognathic treatment plan.

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Acknowledgments

The English in this document has been checked by at least two professional editors, both native speakers of English. For a certificate, please see: http://www.textcheck.com/certificate/tcpKsf

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Funding

This study was supported by a National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korea government (MSIP) (No. 2012R1A5A2051384).

Ethical approval

Because this study was performed using only radiographic data, it does not include any personal information on the patients. The study protocol was approved by Kyung Hee University Dental Hospital IRB (KHD IRB 1410-1).

Informed consent

The patients were informed of the scientific use of their radiographic data.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Kyung Hee University School of Dentistry, Kyungheedaero 23, Seoul, 130-872, South Korea

    Hong-Soon Kim, Jung-Woo Lee & Yong-Dae Kwon

  2. Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Kyung Hee University School of Dentistry, Seoul, South Korea

    Gyu-Tae Kim

  3. Kyung Hee University Dental Hospital, Seoul, South Korea

    Sun Kim

  4. Deptartment of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology and Research Center for Tooth and Periodontal Regeneration (MRC), Kyung Hee University School of Dentistry, Seoul, South Korea

    Eun-Cheol Kim

Authors
  1. Hong-Soon Kim
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  2. Gyu-Tae Kim
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  3. Sun Kim
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  4. Jung-Woo Lee
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  5. Eun-Cheol Kim
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  6. Yong-Dae Kwon
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Eun-Cheol Kim or Yong-Dae Kwon.

Additional information

Eun-Cheol Kim and Yong-Dae Kwon equally contributed to this study.

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Kim, HS., Kim, GT., Kim, S. et al. Three-dimensional evaluation of the pharyngeal airway using cone-beam computed tomography following bimaxillary orthognathic surgery in skeletal class III patients. Clin Oral Invest 20, 915–922 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00784-015-1575-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00784-015-1575-4

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