Correlation of Palatal Index With Pharyngeal Airway in Various Skeletal Patterns

Introduction This retrospective study aimed to correlate palatal index with pharyngeal airway in class I, class II and class III skeletal patterns. Materials and methods A total of 30 individuals with a mean age of 17.5 years were included in the study. The subjects were categorized on the basis of ANB (A point, nasion, B point) angle into skeletal class I, II, and III patterns (N=10). Using Korkhaus analysis, palatal height, palatal breadth, and palatal height index were calculated from the study models. From the lateral cephalogram, the dimensions of the upper and lower pharyngeal airways were measured using McNamara Airway Analysis. The results were calculated using the ANOVA test. Results A statistically significant difference was found in all three groups of class I, II, and III malocclusions for palatal index and airway dimensions. The skeletal class II malocclusion participants exhibited the highest mean values for the palatal index (P=0.03). Class I had the highest mean value for the upper airway (P=0.041), whereas class III had the highest mean value for the lower airway (P=0.026). Conclusion It was concluded that subjects with the class II skeletal pattern have a high palate and reduced upper and lower airways when compared with class I and class III skeletal patterns, which showed larger upper and lower airways, respectively.