Length of The Skeletal Airway to The Soft Tissue Airway

Objective: This was a cephalometric study to evaluate the relationship between the skeletal airway as determined by the origin and insertion of the superior constrictor of the pharynx and the soft tissue airway and its soft tissue boundaries. Methods: Cephalometric lateral headfilms of 177 Class I and Class I malocclusions were randomly selected prior to orthodontic treatment from a single office. The mean age was 9.5 years with a standard deviation of 2.3 years. Age, cephalometric landmarks (Ba, S, Ar, Ptm, N, M, Ans, Pns, PPW, anterior arch atlas [AA) ramus{R} and planes (Palatal, Frankfort Horizontal [FH], Nasal Pharyngeal Cavity [NPC]) and angles (BaSN, SNFH, BaSFH) were measured. A right-angle coordinate system as described by Coben, registering landmarks a right angles to FH for depth proportions and at right angles to a line perpendicular to FH for vertical proportions. Correlation coefficients and p values were used to evaluate the data with a minimal significance of 0.5 to determine 95% confidence level, Results: Statistically negative correlations exist between the position of the posterior pharyngeal wall at both the PPL and AA. With most significant is when related to the PP. The statistically significant positive correlation of the linear distance form BaAr equates the size of the airway to the origin and insertion of the superior constrictor of the pharynx. Conclusions: A more posterior position of the pharyngeal wall equates to a larger airway. The greater the distance between the origin and insertion of the superior constrictor of the pharynx the larger will be the airway becom