Assessment of pharyngeal width and length, position of hyoid bone and size & inclination of soft palate in different skeletal malocclusions Uttrakhand population

Background: Uvulo-glosso-pharyngeal dimensions and size and position of associated structures are integral part of Orthodontic treatment planning. Since decades various authors have assessed airway dimensions by different methods and implied the results in diagnosis and treatment planning. Aims & objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the uvulo-pharyngeal dimensions and position of hyoid bone in subjects with different anteroposterior jaw relationships. Method: Cephalometric radiographs of 30 subjects (age 15-25 years of Uttrakhand ethnic origin) were divided into three Groups accorging to ANB and Wits appraisal. Group 1, Skeletal Class I (ANB 1-4 and Wits Appraisal -1 to 0) Group 2, Skeletal Class II (ANB >4 and Wits Appraisal >1) & Group 3, Skeletal Class III (ANB <1 and Wits Appraisal < -1.5). Statistical analysis was undertaken using one-way ANOVA to evaluate the mean and standard deviation in the three Groups and Post hoc Tukey test was done to compare the variables between the three Groups. Results: On an average, upper airway width was decreased in Group 2 and increased in Group 3 (p=0.028). Lower airway was increased in Group 3 (p=o.005). Velopharyngeal airway was decreased in Group 2 and increased in Group 3(p=0.042).Thickness of soft palate was increased in Group 3(p= 0.0.13). Hyoid bone was positioned poaterioinferiorly in Group 2 and Anterosuperiorly in Group 3(p=0.002).In conclusion, uvulo-pharyngeal airway and position of hyoid bone are affected by anteroposterior skeletal patterns in Uttrakhand population despite of its multiethenicity.