PHARYNGEAL AIRWAY CHANGES IN PATIENTS TREATED WITH TWINBLOCK THERAPY: CBCT STUDY

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of Twinblock on pharyngeal airway.

Material and Methods total CBCT record of 45 subjects of North Indian in the age range of 11-15 years were assessed.Out of these 45 subjects,25 treated skeletal class II malocclusion and 20 control Skeletal class I relationship subjects were selected.The subjects were divided into three groups control, pretreatment and posttreatment Groups.The CBCTwas used to measure the following variablesHeight,Width,length, cross-sectional areas at PNS plane, U plane, Eplane and pharyngeal airway volume. Student t test and chi-square test, linear regressiontest and Pearson correlation wereused for statistical analysis.

Results-After twin block treatment pharyngeal airway measurements statistically significant difference were found in pharyngeal airway parameters except Wg, Vp and CSAp.No statistically significant difference were found between pretreatment and control group. Correlation coefficient showed negative correlation between Hpand Wp and Wn andLg as one parameter increase other parameters decreased.Rest all other parameters shows positive correlation.

Conclusion-PharyngealAirway parameters were significantly increased after Twin Block Therapy in both the genders. The shape of Nasopharynx and Glossopharynxturned more elliptic in transverse plane whereas shape of Palatopharynxturned more circular.