Effect of the application of software on the volumetric and cross-sectional assessment of the oropharyngeal airway of patients with and without an open bite: A CBCT study.

BACKGROUND: Using different software to evaluate the airways, with different thresholds, but within the range for airway recognition, could yield different measurements in the same patient with or without craniofacial disharmony. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to compare the volume and the most constricted area (MCA) of the oropharynx in individuals with or without an open bite by using 2 software programs meant for cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). MATERIAL AND METHODS: This comparative study included 60 cases selected from 137 CBCT scans obtained from individuals with the presence or absence of an open bite. Each group included adults of both genders - in total 30 women and 30 men - with a mean age of 27.57 ±11.85 years in the open bite group and 26.23 ±6.78 years in the control group. The oropharyngeal volume and MCA were measured with 2 three-dimensional (3D) software packages: Planmeca Romexis®; and Nemotec NemoStudio®. Two calibrated orthodontists trained in the use of the software made the measurements. Data was analyzed using Student's t tests for independent and paired samples (p < 0.05). RESULTS: In general, the oropharynx volume measurements obtained with the NemoStudio software were significantly higher than those obtained with Romexis (19,007.17 ±8005.79 mm3 and 17,823.47 ±7148.62 mm3, respectively) (p = 0.020). However, when the groups were analyzed separately, the measurements of the group with an open bite did not differ according to the software used (p = 0.352). The measurements of the MCA of the oropharynx were significantly higher when obtained with the NemoStudio software (MD (mean difference) = 19.02 mm2) (p = 0.005). In contrast, no difference in the MCA results for the 2 software packages was found in the open bite group (p = 0.728). CONCLUSIONS: The volumetric and cross-sectional measurements of the oropharyngeal airway, particularly in individuals without an open bite, were affected by the software used.

Upper airways evaluation in young adults with an anterior open bite: A CBCT retrospective controlled and cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the dimensions of the upper airway in young adults with anterior open bite versus matched individuals with an adequate overbite (control group) using different measurement approaches (linear, area, and volume measures). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The sample included 137 cone-beam computed tomographies (CBCTs) of young adults (74 men and 63 women) divided into two groups: 47 CBCTs of individuals (mean age 27.89) with open bite (overbite depth indicator (ODI) 56.84°±9.48° and Frankfort mandibular plane angle (FMA) 31.21°±6.44°) and 90 CBCTs of individuals (mean age 26.87) without an open bite (ODI 62.24°±9.47°, FMA 26.79°±5.81°). Two trained and calibrated orthodontists made all linear, area, and volume measurements on the CBCT records of the upper airways using Planmeca Romexis software. The Mann-Whitney U-test, chi-squared test, and multiple linear regression were applied. Significance was set at P<0.05. RESULTS: There were no differences in linear or volume measurements between groups, but there was a greater area in the open bite group (greater mean difference between groups 928.3 mm2) than the control group. No variable influenced nasopharyngeal airway volume, but ANB angle affected oropharyngeal airway volume (ß=-623.87) and total airway volume (ß=-651.48). CONCLUSIONS: Orthodontists should be aware that the airways diagnosis can vary depending on the measurement approach used, the volumetric method being the gold standard. The pharyngeal airway volume was similar in individuals with vs. without an open bite and is mainly influenced by ANB angle in both groups.

Midpalatal suture maturation stage assessment in adolescents and young adults using cone-beam computed tomography.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the midpalatal suture maturation stages in adolescents and young adults using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). METHODS: The sample comprised 200 CBCT scans of individuals aged 10 to 25 years old (95 males and 105 females) divided into three groups, adolescents (n = 48), post-adolescents (n = 52), and young adults (n = 100). The Planmeca ProMax 3D software was used for the midpalatal suture maturation stage evaluation according to Angieleri's method, using cross-sectional axial slice. Two previously calibrated examiners analyzed the images and classified according to five different maturation stages. A, B, and C stages were considered with open midpalatal suture, and D and E were considered without open midpalatal suture. Association tests were performed using chi-square test also, and a binary logistic regression was evaluated (P < 0.05). RESULTS: The possibility to find open midpalatal suture in individuals of 10 to 15 years old was 70.8%, in subject aged 16 to 20 and 21 to 25 years old was 21.2% and 17%, respectively. Furthermore, this possibility in individuals older than 16 years was greater in males than in females. CONCLUSIONS: The possibility to find open midpalatal suture in post-adolescents and young adults is greater than the orthodontists considered years ago. Furthermore, men are more likely to find midpalatal suture opening. These implications might be considered by the orthodontists when maxillary expansion is required. Besides, the ossification of the middle palatal suture is very variable, and therefore, the use of CBCT might be recommended to clarify this possibility.