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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · European Journal of General Dentistry 2019; 8(03): 76-79
DOI: 10.4103/ejgd.ejgd_117_19
Original Article

Comparative analysis of the oropharyngeal airway in patients aged over 40 years: A cone beam computed tomography study

Mustafa Alkhader
Department of Oral Medicine and Oral Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan
,
Mats Geijer
1   Department of Radiology, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
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Abstract

Aim: This study was carried out to compare different measurements of the oropharyngeal airway in patients aged over 40 years on cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images. Materials and Methods: Seven hundred and five patients aged over 40 years were divided into three groups (40–49, 50–59, and ≥60 years). A comparative analysis of oropharyngeal airway (volume, minimum cross-sectional area, minimum anteroposterior distance, and minimum right to left distance) between the groups was carried out on CBCT images acquired for different dental purposes. Data were analyzed using the one-way ANOVA statistical test. Results: There were statistically significant differences between the groups in mean value of oropharyngeal airway measurements (P < 0.05). In the middle age group of patients aged from 50 to 59 years, the mean value of each measurement was lower than its counterpart in other groups. Conclusions: Patients aged from 50 to 59 years had the smallest oropharyngeal airway measurements; therefore, they might be at high risk of developing sleep-related breathing disorders, and further assessment is recommended.

Keywords

Aged over 40 years - cone beam computed tomography - oropharyngeal airway

Financial support and sponsorship

Nil.




Publication History

Article published online:
01 November 2021

© 2019. European Journal of General Dentistry. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

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