Effects Of Class Iii Orthopaedics On Pharyngeal Airway: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis

Abstract

The aim of this meta-analysis was to investigate the changes in airway dimensions after class III orthopaedic correction. An electronic search in PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and EMBASE was done until December 28, 2021, with FM or chin cup as keyword. The changes in pharyngeal airway dimension in both two-dimensional and three-dimensional images were included in the analysis. Fifteen studies met the criteria. There are statically significant changes in upper airway and nasal passage airway in the intervention groups as compared to the control groups, assessed in two-dimensional and three-dimensional images. After class III orthopedic therapy, post-palatal and nasopharyngeal airway dimensions were significantly improved in growing class III maxillary retrognathic patients. It can be suggested that class III orthopedic therapy has the potential to improve the respiratory efficiency of children with maxillary retrusion and reduce the risk of sleep-disordered breathing in children, such as pediatric OSAS.