Objectives: To test the null hypothesis that there is no significant difference in pharyngeal airway space among adult skeletal Class II patients with different condylar positions using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT).
Materials and methods: The CBCT records of 60 patients with skeletal Class II malocclusion (ANB angle ≥ 4°, Wits ≥ 0) were selected from the CBCT database. According to the condyle position, the patients were divided in three groups: anterior group (CD ≤ -12%), centric group (-12% ≤ CD ≤ +12%), and posterior group (CD ≥ +12%). Three-dimensional (3D) pharyngeal airway models were reconstructed using InvivoDental software 5.1.3. The volume and area of the pharyngeal airway space were measured in the 3D airway model.
Results: The volume and area of the pharyngeal airway space in the centric group were significantly smaller than those in the posterior group ( P < .01). The volume and area of the pharyngeal airway space were smallest in the anterior group and significantly increased in the centric and posterior groups ( P < .001).
Conclusions: The null hypothesis was rejected. Significant differences were noted in pharyngeal airway space among adult skeletal Class II patients with different condylar positions.
Keywords: CBCT; Condylar position; Pharyngeal airway.