Association between orthodontic treatment and upper airway changes in children assessed with cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT): A systematic review.

Background: Some orthodontic devices used in children share similar design principles to appliances used to treat obstructive sleep apnoea in adults. As well as treating malocclusion, orthodontic appliances used in children may therefore also have effects on the upper airway.

Objective: A review of the literature to assess the effects of orthodontic treatment on the upper airway dimensions in children assessed on CBCT.

Airway changes after fixed functional appliance treatment in children with and without morphologic deviations of the upper spine: A 3-dimensional CBCT study.

Introduction: Functional appliances (FA) have a positive effect on the upper airway volume and minimal cross-sectional area (MCA) in children. An association between morphologic deviations of the upper spine (MDUS) and reduced treatment response was found in appliances used to treat adults with obstructive sleep apnea. This study aimed to: (1) compare airway changes after FA treatment in children with and without MDUS and controls; (2) identify if MDUS causes a smaller upper airway.

Effects of a fixed functional appliance on upper airway volume: A 3-dimensional cone-beam computed tomography study.

Introduction: Although functional appliances (FAs) are primarily used to treat Class II malocclusions, their effects on the upper airway have generally been reported in studies involving 2-dimensional analysis of cephalometric radiographs. This study aimed to use 3-dimensional cone-beam computed tomography to (1) determine the effects on upper airway volume and minimum cross-sectional area (MCA) when an FA is used for orthodontic treatment and (2) identify pretreatment markers for airway changes.

Methods: Pre- and posttreatment cone-beam computed tomography scans were selected from 73 children whose orthodontic treatment involved using a fixed FA (37 girls and 36 boys; mean age 12.

Effects of rapid maxillary expansion on upper airway volume: .

Objective: To compare changes in pharyngeal airway volume and minimal cross-sectional area (MCA) between patients undergoing rapid maxillary expansion (RME) and a matched control group and to identify markers for predicting airway changes using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT).

Materials And Methods: Pre- and posttreatment CBCT scans were selected of children who had RME (14 girls and 12 boys; mean age, 12.4 years) along with scans of a control group (matched for chronological age, skeletal age, gender, mandibular inclination) who underwent orthodontic treatment for minor malocclusions without RME.