[Changes of upper airway in ClassⅡchildren with high mandibular plane angle before and after functional treatment by high headgear-activator].

PURPOSE: This study was performed to investigate the changes of upper airway before and after functional correction in ClassⅡmalocclusion children with high mandibular plane angle at growth and development peak.

METHODS

Cone-beam CT (CBCT) data of the upper airway were inputted into Minics 17.0 software for measurement of changes in the upper airway before and after functional treatment by high headgear-activator. The changes of upper airway before and after treatment were analyzed with SPSS22.0 software package.

RESULTS

The change of the total volume of the upper airway, the volume of the velopharynx, glossopharynx, laryngopharynx; the sectional area of the tip of soft palate, roof of the epiglottis, the minimum sectional area of the oropharynx were significant (P<0.05). The upper airway morphology tended to be circular in the soft palate tip plane(P<0.05), but there was no significant difference in the plane of epiglottis(P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

High headgear-activator corrected mandibular hypoplasia in children with increased airway volume, increased ventilation, improved respiratory function to prevent occurrence of obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome after adult.