[Relationship between upper airway and cranial-facial growth patterns in adolescents with normal occlusion].

PURPOSE: To investigate the relationship between upper airway and cranial-facial growth pattern among teenagers with normal occlusion.

METHODS: The study subjects consisted of 52 boys and 64 girls with normal occlusion. Their cephalometric radiographs were obtained. The sagittal diameter of upper airway was analyzed according to gender and different growth pattern. The relationship of upper airway diameter and cranial-facial formation was evaluated by stepwise regression analysis using SPSS 21.0 software package.

RESULTS: There was no significant difference between male and female about upper airway diameter in teenagers, also no difference was found among different growth patterns. Regression analysis showed that upper airway was associated with some cranial-facial formation parameters.

CONCLUSIONS: Although there is no significant difference in the upper airway diameters among different growth patterns, there is still certain association between cranial-facial formation and upper airway in adolescents.