Open AccessLateral cephalometry: A simple and economical clinical guide for assessment of nasopharyngeal free airway space in mouth breathers
Author(s) -
Navneet Grewal,
Alkesh Godhane
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
contemporary clinical dentistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.289
H-Index - 21
eISSN - 0976-237X
pISSN - 0976-2361
DOI - 10.4103/0976-237x.68589
Subject(s) - adenoid , medicine , mouth breathing , adenoid hypertrophy , cephalometry , nose , orthodontics , dentistry , rhinomanometry , airway , airway obstruction , breathing , surgery , anatomy , adenoidectomy , tonsillectomy
Nasopharyngeal obstruction by adenoid enlargement is one of the main causes of mouth breathing. Cephalometric radiographs and rhinomanometric tests to evaluate nasal obstruction have been available for several decades. Various lines and areas have been interpreted by number of investigators to implicate the enlarged adenoid in a casual relationship with mouth breathing and the subsequent effect on vertical facial growth. The aim of this paper is to review lateral cephalometric tracing methods combined with newer Auto-cad surface area measurement program so that assessment of the nasopharyngeal free airway space can be done based on it, before more rigorous ear-nose-throat follow up is needed for the patient.