Comparison of Linear Measurements of Tongue and Lower Airway in Skeletal Class Ii with Various Growth Pattern

The volume of functional spaces such as Oral, Nasal and Pharyngeal spaces and the patency of the Orofacial area is maintained due to the postural activity of the Orofacial musculature and soft tissue wall formed by lips, cheeks, floor of the mouth, tongue, soft palate. According to Functional matrix theory form and function are interrelated. Tongue and Airway also plays a major role in Normal growth and development of craniofacial structures. Their dimensions have been shown to alter in various studies in Skeletal class II patients. The aim of this present research is to compare and evaluate the linear measurement of tongue and lower airway in skeletal Class II patients with various skeletal growth patterns. 60 Lateral Cephalograms which matched the inclusion criteria were selected from the case records of patients who reported for orthodontic treatment in a university hospital. They were grouped equally among the three growth patterns. All linear measurements of tongue and lower oropharyngeal airway were measured. The result shows that there is no significant difference in the linear measurement of width of the lower pharyngeal airway (p-0.49) and Tongue length in Skeletal class two patients with various growth patterns (p-0.88).