Evaluation of upper and lower pharyngeal airway in hypo and hyper divergent Class I, II and III malocclusions in a group of Egyptian patients

IntroductionSignificant relationships between the pharyngeal structures and both dento-facial and craniofacial structures have been reported. Hyper-divergent patients may lead to narrower antero-posterior dimensions of the airway. Some authors associated vertical growth pattern with obstruction of the upper and lower pharyngeal airways others associated mouth breathing and Class II malocclusion. So the aim of this study was to assess the upper and lower pharyngeal airway width in different antero-posterior and vertical growth patterns and to evaluate sexual dimorphism in a group of Egyptian patients.Patients and methodA sample of 300 Egyptian patients had divided into (5) groups (each group 60 patients) group 1 Class I, group 2 and 3 Class II division 1 (maxillary prognathism and mandibular deficiency), group 4 and 5 Class III (maxillary deficiency and mandibular prognathism). Each group was divided into three sub groups (hypo-hyper and normal divergent) vertical growth pattern. Each subgroup consists of 10 male and 10 female. The upper and lower pharyngeal airway widths were measured and compared for all groups.ResultsSignificant differences had exist regarding lower pharyngeal airway between Class I and class II division 1, Class I and Class III mandibular prognathism, Class II and Class III maxillary deficiency, Class II and Class III mandibular prognathism. Significant differences between hypo, hyper and normal vertical growth pattern.ConclusionsIn all groups hyper-divergent growth had narrower airway than normal and hypo-divergent growth. Class III had wider airway than Class I malocclusion. Class I had wider airway than Class II division 1 malocclusion. Lower pharyngeal airway in class II division 1 had the narrowest width in all groups. Lower pharyngeal airway in class III mandibular prognathism had the widest width in all groups. Males have wider pharyngeal airway than females.