Correlation of Oropharyngeal Airway Volume and Transverse Dental Arch Form: A Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) Study

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Variations in transverse dental arch form can significantly impact airway and breathing. With the advent of cone beam computed tomography, accurate evaluation of airway can be performed, overcoming two-dimensional limitations of lateral Cephalogram.

Objective: The aim of the study is to compare oropharyngeal airway volume and index of inter-canine width relative to the intermolar width (ICW/IMW), and internal angles; interincisor, canine, and molar angle of the maxillary and mandibular arches using CBCT. The study also aims to compare gender and oropharyngeal airway volume and all transverse dental arch form variables.

Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the duration of January 2024 to June 2024 at Margalla Institute of Health Sciences, Rawalpindi. The Ethics Review Committee of Margalla Institute of Health Sciences Rawalpindi, granted approval, (Ethical Approval Number: DM/199/23). The SPSS software version 23 was employed for data analysis. Independent T test was applied for gender comparison of OPV and all transverse dental arch form variables while correlation between OPV and transverse dental arch form variables was determined using Pearson’s coefficient (r).

Result: A positive significant correlation was found between OPV and maxillary inter-incisor angle(r=0.363), maxillary canine angle (r=0.393) and mandibular inter-incisor angle. (r=0.476). Significant negative correlation was observed between OPV and maxillary molar angle (r=-0.348), mandibular canine angle (r=-0.559), ICW/IMW ratio of mandible (r=-0.224). There was insignificant negative correlation of OPV with maxillary ICW/IMW ratio (r=-0.151) and mandibular molar angle (r=-0.004).

Conclusion: Oropharyngeal volume was significantly positively correlated with transverse dental arch morphology. These results indicate a complex interdependence between transverse dental arch form and airway volume and call for airway assessment in conjunction with the dental arch form.