Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, Eastman Institute for Oral Health, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York, USA, Phone: +1 (585) 275-5012, e-mail:
Department of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
J Contemp Dent Pract. 2021 Mar 1;22(3):224-230.
This retrospective study aimed to assess changes in airway dimensions with non-extraction clear-aligner-therapy (NE-CAT) in adult patients with mild-to-moderate crowding.
Cone-beam computed tomographic images were evaluated for 24 adults (16 females and 8 males) with mild-to-moderate crowding, and Class I or mild skeletal Class II malocclusion before and after NE-CAT. Cross-sectional and volumetric airway measurements were performed at the level of the nasal cavity, upper pharyngeal airway space (UAS), and lower pharyngeal airway space (LAS). The Frankfort-mandibular plane angle (FMA), point A-nasion-point B (ANB) angle, and intermolar width were measured. A paired test was used to assess changes in airway measurements. Linear regression analyses were performed to identify predictors of the pharyngeal airway volume change at the levels of the UAS and LAS.
There was a significant decrease ( = 0.004) in UAS mean volume (486.63± 752.73 mm), LAS mean volume ( = 0.006), and cross-sectional airway area ( = 0.022) (1536.92± 2512.02 mm and 34.66± 69.35 mm, respectively) with NE-CAT. The mean airway volume of the nasal cavity, mean cross-sectional airway areas of the nasal cavity and UAS, and mean minimum cross-sectional pharyngeal airway area did not change significantly with NE-CAT. Changes in pharyngeal airway volume were not significantly associated with patients' age, gender, treatment duration, pretreatment ANB angle, and changes in FMA and maxillary first intermolar width with NE-CAT.
Significant changes in the pharyngeal airway dimensions of the UAS and LAS with NE-CAT in adult patients with mild-to-moderate crowding were identified.
The results of the present study show that NE-CAT is not associated with an improvement in airway dimensions in adults with mild to moderate crowding.
本回顾性研究旨在评估轻度至中度拥挤的成年患者接受非拔牙透明矫正治疗（NE-CAT）后气道尺寸的变化。
对 24 名轻度至中度拥挤、I 类或轻度骨骼 II 类错颌且无牙颌的成年患者（16 名女性和 8 名男性）进行了锥形束 CT 图像评估。在 NE-CAT 前后分别进行鼻腔、上咽气道空间（UAS）和下咽气道空间（LAS）的气道横截面积和容积测量。测量法兰克福-下颌平面角（FMA）、A-鼻根点-B（ANB）角和磨牙间宽度。采用配对检验评估气道测量值的变化。进行线性回归分析以确定 UAS 和 LAS 水平咽气道容积变化的预测因素。
随着 NE-CAT 的进行，UAS 平均容积（486.63±752.73mm）、LAS 平均容积（ = 0.006）和横截面积气道面积（ = 0.022）（分别为 1536.92±2512.02mm 和 34.66±69.35mm）显著减小。NE-CAT 后，鼻腔平均气道容积、鼻腔和 UAS 平均横截面积气道面积以及最小横截面积咽气道面积无明显变化。咽气道容积的变化与患者年龄、性别、治疗持续时间、治疗前 ANB 角以及 FMA 和上颌第一磨牙间宽度的变化与 NE-CAT 无关。
在轻度至中度拥挤的成年患者中，NE-CAT 可显著改变 UAS 和 LAS 的咽气道尺寸。
本研究结果表明，NE-CAT 与轻度至中度拥挤的成年人气道尺寸的改善无关。
