• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.72-82
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• 2009

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the structural changes of the hyoid bone and upper airway after orthognathic surgery for skeletal class III anterior open bite patients, and make comparisons with normal occlusion. Methods: Pre- and post-operative computed tomography (CT) examinations were performed on 12 skeletal class III anterior open bite patients who were treated with mandibular setback osteotomy. Using the V-works $4.0^{TM}$ program, 3-dimensional images of the total skull, mandible, hyoid bone, and upper airway were evaluated. Results: In the Class III open bite group, the hyoid bone were all positioned anteriorly, compared to the Normal group (p < 0.05). The angle between the hyoid plane and mandibular plane in the Class III openbite group before surgery was greater than in the Normal group (p < 0.05), and the difference increased after surgery (p < 0.01). In the Class III openbite group, the volume of the upper airway decreased after surgery (p < 0.001) and the volume of the upper airway was smaller than the Normal group before and after surgery (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The narrow upper airway space in skeletal Class III openbite patients decreased after mandibular setback osteotomy. This may affect the post-surgical stability.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.209-218
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• 2019

This study was aimed to evaluate orofacial morphologies on the cases of developmental disorders of maxillary first molars. Panoramic radiographs, lateral cephalographs, and clinical photos of 2983 children who attended the Pediatric Dental Clinic of Pusan National University Dental Hospital from 2006 to August 2017 were assessed retrospectively. 34 patients were selected whose maxillary first molars were missed or developmentally delayed unilaterally or bilaterally. Demirjian's method was used for estimating dental age, then which was compared to chronologic age of children. Parameters expressing skeletal and dentoalveolar disharmony were checked and compared with control. Additionally, occlusion relationship was evaluated. Maxillary dental age was significantly delayed compared to chronologic age. Several parameters which show skeletal open-bite tendency and skeletal class III malocclusion with maxillary retrusion were statistically significant. Anterior crossbite and edge-bite were expected in most of these cases, but compensation by occlusion and soft tissue was also verified which might mask skeletal class III tendency. Congenital missed or developmentally delayed maxillary first molars might be related with declined growth of maxilla. If developmental disorders of maxillary first molars were verified during clinical examination, careful monitoring of orofacial growth was necessary during puberty and timed orthopedic and orthodontic intervention were considered.