Pharyngeal Dimensions in Various Facial Patterns - A Cephalometric Study

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the nasopharynx, oropharynx and hypopharynx of persons with hyperdivergent, hypodivergent and normodivergent facial patterns and to determine the effects of the pharyngeal size in different facial patterns. The pre-treatment cephalograms of90 subjects were obtained from the department of orthodontics, faculty of dental sciences, Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj Medical University, Lucknow. Sample was divided into 3 groups on the basis of SN - MP angle and 30 subjects were in each group, Group I: SN-MP range - 25-33°(Normodivergent), Group II : SN-MP range<25°(Hypodivergent), Group III: SN-MP range ->33°(Hyperdivergent).The area measurement of oropharynx was significantly greater for group III when compared to group I [p<0.01] and group II [p<0.05]. Conclusion: The thickness of the posterior pharyngea lwall in the nasopharynx was more in the hyperdivergent group than the other groups. The oropharynx was observed to be larger in hyperdivergent subjects followed by hypodivergent subjects and then by normodivergent subjects.