Risk factors for small pharyngeal airway dimensions in preorthodontic children: A three-dimensional study.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze which parameters, gathered from standard orthodontic diagnostic material, were most relevant for identifying small pharyngeal airway dimensions in preorthodontic children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The sample was composed of 105 cone beam computed tomography scans of healthy preorthodontic children (44 boys, 61 girls; mean age, 10.7 +/- 2.4 years). Airway volume and minimal cross-sectional area were three-dimensionally assessed. Cephalometric features and skeletal maturity were assessed on generated two-dimensional cephalograms. Associations were analyzed and adjusted for age, gender, and skeletal maturity by multiple regression analyses. RESULTS: Airway volume and minimal cross-sectional area were significantly smaller in prepubertal children (P < .001, P < .05, respectively) and positively associated with age (P < .001, P < .01, respectively). After adjustment of age, skeletal maturity and gender significant associations were found between pharyngeal airway dimensions and craniofacial morphology. Airway volume was positively associated with maxillary and mandibular width (P < .01; P < .001, respectively) and anterior face height (P < .05; P < .05, respectively). Minimal cross-sectional area was positively associated with maxillary and mandibular width (P < .01; P < .001, respectively) and negatively associated with sagittal jaw relationship (AnPg, P < .05). Mandibular width and age were the most relevant factors for airway volume (r(2) = 0.36). Mandibular width and sagittal jaw relationship were the most relevant factors for minimal cross-sectional area (r(2) = 0.16). CONCLUSION: Pharyngeal airway dimensions were significantly associated with age, skeletal maturity, and craniofacial morphology in all three planes. Children with a reduced mandibular width and increased sagittal jaw relationship are particularly at risk of having small pharyngeal airway dimensions.