Effects Of The Maxillary Protraction On Three Dimensional Upper-airway’s Morphologic Characteristics Analysis Of Patients With Unilateral Cleft Lip And Palate

Objective:To analyze the impact of headgear or non-headgear treatment on the upper-airway’s morphologic characteristics in the patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate(UCLP). Cone Beam CT was used to get the3-D data in the research. The conclusion of the research was expected to enrich the theoretical basis in the treatment of headgear of UCLP patients.Methods:The sample included51patients with UCLP. According to the criteria,27of them were treated with headgear (the experimental group) and the others (the control groups) were not. CBCT images were taken before orthodontic treatment (TO) and one year after (T1). The3-D data of upper-airway’s morphologic characteristics was measured and analyzed. Intergroup and intragroup differences were compared to minimize the impact of patients’growth in the research.In the research, the upper airway was divided into four parts:nasopharynx, palatopharynx, glossopharyngeum and laryngopharynx. Central sagittal diameter, maximum coronal diameter and cross section area of every part were measured. The mean, maximum and minimum values of every part had been compared. Each data had been measured three times, we choosed the mean value. Statistical analysis used the independent sample t test.Results:1. In the experimental group, the central sagittal diameter and cross section area of nasopharynx increased statistically after one year’s treatment, while the coronal diameter was tended to increased, but without statistical differences. Meanwhile, in the experimental group, the central sagittal diameter and cross section area of palatopharynx increased statistically after one year’s treatment.2. The compare of post-treatment measurements intergroup showed that the central sagittal diameter and cross section area of nasopharynx and palatopharynx increased statistically. The other measurements didn’t show statistical differences.Conclusion: After headgear treatment, the UCLP patients showed statistical increase in the central sagittal diameter and cross section area of nasopharynx and palatopharynx part. It illustrated that headgear can broaden the upper-airway, especially in the nasopharynx and palatopharynx part.