Preliminary study: evaluating the reliability of CBCT images for tongue space measurements in the field of orthodontics.

Introduction: Accurately measuring tongue space is challenging, but this information can be useful to many dental specialties. This study was intended to estimate the reliability of using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) to measure tongue space, which includes tongue volume and the oral cavity air capacity.

Methods: For this preliminary study, CBCT images from ten participants (five females and five males, mean age of 29.

Use of cone beam computed tomography imaging for airway measurement to predict obstructive sleep apnea.

: This retrospective chart review examined whether airway parameters were correlated with scores on the STOP-Bang questionnaire. Minimal upper airway area, upper airway volume, minimal retropalatal area, retropalatal volume, minimal retroglossal area, and retroglossal volume were calculated from cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images. Patients were grouped based on their STOP-Bang scores (<3 or ≥3) for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and airway parameters were compared across the 2 groups.