The effect of maxillary protraction on facial shape and upper airway in children with skeletal type Ⅲ mouth breathing
Objective:To study the changes in the posterior morphology and upper airway of children with skeletal Class Ⅲ respiratory anterior teeth crossbite treated with a maxillary protraction,and to observe the therapeutic effect of maxil-lary protraction on skeletal Class Ⅲ respiratory anterior teeth crossbite.Methods:Sixteen patients with skeletal Class Ⅲ re-spiratory anterior crossbite who visited Shanghai Children's Hospital from 2019 to 2022 were selected as the study subjects,including 8 males and 8 females,with an average age of(6.81±1.80)years.All enrolled patients were treated with a simple maxillary protraction.Cranial lateral films were taken before and after treatment to observe and compare the changes in facial morphology and upper airway space in children before and after treatment.Results:After treatment,the upper airway space,middle and upper airway space,nasolabial angle and ANB were significantly larger than those before treatment(P<0.05).The upper airway middle space,lower space,philtrum length,upper lip length,lower 1/3 of face length and upper lip/lower face ratio increased compared with those before treatment,while the upper airway middle and lower space,philtrum/upper lip ratio and face shape angle decreased compared with those before treatment.The results were not statistically significant except for the philtrum/upper lip ratio.Conclusion:Maxillary protraction can increase the upper airway space and improve the pa-tient's profile in children with skeletal Class Ⅲ respiratory anterior teeth malocclusion,which not only improves the patient's respiratory symptoms but also promotes maxillary growth and development.