Changes in Upper Airway Airflow After Rapid Maxillary Expansion Beyond the Peak Period of Adenoidal Growth—A CBCT Study Using Computer Fluid Dynamics and Considering Adenoidal Dimensions as a Factor
Background/Objectives: This retrospective study used computer fluid dynamics (CFD) to evaluate the medium-term changes in the upper airways (UA) airflow after rapid maxillary expansion (RME) in three age-matched groups with different degrees of adenoidal obstruction. Methods: The sample included Con...
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MDPI AG
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Dentistry Journal |
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| author | Giuseppe Palazzo Rosalia Leonardi Gaetano Isola Manuel Lagravere Antonino Lo Giudice |
| author_facet | Giuseppe Palazzo Rosalia Leonardi Gaetano Isola Manuel Lagravere Antonino Lo Giudice |
| author_sort | Giuseppe Palazzo |
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| description | Background/Objectives: This retrospective study used computer fluid dynamics (CFD) to evaluate the medium-term changes in the upper airways (UA) airflow after rapid maxillary expansion (RME) in three age-matched groups with different degrees of adenoidal obstruction. Methods: The sample included Cone-Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) of 67 adolescents taken before (T0) and 12 months after RME (T1) and divided into three cohorts: Control Group (CG, <25% obstruction: 24 subjects, mean age = 11.8 ± 1.3), Adenoids Group 1 (AG1, >25% <75% obstruction: = 22 subjects, mean age = 10.9 ± 1.5), Adenoids Group 2 (AG2, >75% obstruction: = 21 subjects, mean age = 11.2 ± 1.6). The airflow pressure, velocity and obstruction were simulated using computer fluid dynamics (CFD). Results: The pressure significantly improved in CG and AG1 groups while the velocity improved in AG1 as well as the prevalence of obstruction improvement. The airflow pressure and velocity changes could be attributed to the reduction of the resistances in the adenotonsillar region, which was remarkably more marked in the AG1. Conclusions: Alterations in the adenotonsillar region likely represent the most substantial factors influencing airflow changes after RME. The integration of anatomical and functional data, along with the identification of baseline patient characteristics, may facilitate the characterization of phenotypes most appropriate for initial management through either Rapid Maxillary Expansion (RME) or otolaryngologic (ENT) interventions. |
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| institution | OA Journals |
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| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
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| series | Dentistry Journal |
| spelling | doaj-art-29d6240a9a0d4cec8a7c3363889e43292025-08-20T02:33:44ZengMDPI AGDentistry Journal2304-67672025-05-0113520910.3390/dj13050209Changes in Upper Airway Airflow After Rapid Maxillary Expansion Beyond the Peak Period of Adenoidal Growth—A CBCT Study Using Computer Fluid Dynamics and Considering Adenoidal Dimensions as a FactorGiuseppe Palazzo0Rosalia Leonardi1Gaetano Isola2Manuel Lagravere3Antonino Lo Giudice4Department of General Surgery and Medical-Surgical Specialties, Section of Orthodontics, University of Catania, Policlinico Universitario “Gaspare Rodolico—San Marco”, Via Santa Sofia 78, 95123 Catania, ItalyDepartment of General Surgery and Medical-Surgical Specialties, Section of Orthodontics, University of Catania, Policlinico Universitario “Gaspare Rodolico—San Marco”, Via Santa Sofia 78, 95123 Catania, ItalyDepartment of General Surgery and Medical-Surgical Specialties, Section of Periodontology, University of Catania, Policlinico Universitario “Gaspare Rodolico—San Marco”, Via Santa Sofia 78, 95123 Catania, ItalyOrthodontic Graduate Program, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G2R3, CanadaDepartment of General Surgery and Medical-Surgical Specialties, Section of Pediatric Dentistry, University of Catania, Policlinico Universitario “Gaspare Rodolico—San Marco”, Via Santa Sofia 78, 95123 Catania, ItalyBackground/Objectives: This retrospective study used computer fluid dynamics (CFD) to evaluate the medium-term changes in the upper airways (UA) airflow after rapid maxillary expansion (RME) in three age-matched groups with different degrees of adenoidal obstruction. Methods: The sample included Cone-Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) of 67 adolescents taken before (T0) and 12 months after RME (T1) and divided into three cohorts: Control Group (CG, <25% obstruction: 24 subjects, mean age = 11.8 ± 1.3), Adenoids Group 1 (AG1, >25% <75% obstruction: = 22 subjects, mean age = 10.9 ± 1.5), Adenoids Group 2 (AG2, >75% obstruction: = 21 subjects, mean age = 11.2 ± 1.6). The airflow pressure, velocity and obstruction were simulated using computer fluid dynamics (CFD). Results: The pressure significantly improved in CG and AG1 groups while the velocity improved in AG1 as well as the prevalence of obstruction improvement. The airflow pressure and velocity changes could be attributed to the reduction of the resistances in the adenotonsillar region, which was remarkably more marked in the AG1. Conclusions: Alterations in the adenotonsillar region likely represent the most substantial factors influencing airflow changes after RME. The integration of anatomical and functional data, along with the identification of baseline patient characteristics, may facilitate the characterization of phenotypes most appropriate for initial management through either Rapid Maxillary Expansion (RME) or otolaryngologic (ENT) interventions.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6767/13/5/209maxillary expansionupper airwaysdigital orthodonticsRME3D imagingCBCT |
| spellingShingle | Giuseppe Palazzo Rosalia Leonardi Gaetano Isola Manuel Lagravere Antonino Lo Giudice Changes in Upper Airway Airflow After Rapid Maxillary Expansion Beyond the Peak Period of Adenoidal Growth—A CBCT Study Using Computer Fluid Dynamics and Considering Adenoidal Dimensions as a Factor Dentistry Journal maxillary expansion upper airways digital orthodontics RME 3D imaging CBCT |
| title | Changes in Upper Airway Airflow After Rapid Maxillary Expansion Beyond the Peak Period of Adenoidal Growth—A CBCT Study Using Computer Fluid Dynamics and Considering Adenoidal Dimensions as a Factor |
| title_full | Changes in Upper Airway Airflow After Rapid Maxillary Expansion Beyond the Peak Period of Adenoidal Growth—A CBCT Study Using Computer Fluid Dynamics and Considering Adenoidal Dimensions as a Factor |
| title_fullStr | Changes in Upper Airway Airflow After Rapid Maxillary Expansion Beyond the Peak Period of Adenoidal Growth—A CBCT Study Using Computer Fluid Dynamics and Considering Adenoidal Dimensions as a Factor |
| title_full_unstemmed | Changes in Upper Airway Airflow After Rapid Maxillary Expansion Beyond the Peak Period of Adenoidal Growth—A CBCT Study Using Computer Fluid Dynamics and Considering Adenoidal Dimensions as a Factor |
| title_short | Changes in Upper Airway Airflow After Rapid Maxillary Expansion Beyond the Peak Period of Adenoidal Growth—A CBCT Study Using Computer Fluid Dynamics and Considering Adenoidal Dimensions as a Factor |
| title_sort | changes in upper airway airflow after rapid maxillary expansion beyond the peak period of adenoidal growth a cbct study using computer fluid dynamics and considering adenoidal dimensions as a factor |
| topic | maxillary expansion upper airways digital orthodontics RME 3D imaging CBCT |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6767/13/5/209 |
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