Acoustic pharyngometry: new vista in diagnosing the airway

The objective of this article is to highlight the importance and use of Acoustic Pharyngometry as a Screening and Monitoring Tool of compromised airway in all patients seeking treatment especially for orthodontics and Sleep Disordered Breathing SDB The article discusses two cases screened for compromised airway using this tool and treated using available orthodontic treatment options and appliances Case one is of a yr old female patient diagnosed as a case of Mandibular hypoplasia secondary to unilateral TM joint ankylosis right side with a decreased airway and was planned for mandibular advancement of mm by Distraction Osteogenesis Acoustic pharyngometry carried out in VTO showed improvement in the decreased airway parameters The same treatment objective was accomplished after completion of pre surgical and post surgical orthodontics Case two is of a yr old male patient diagnosed as a skeletal class II malocclusion with retroclined maxillary incisors and a locked mandible planned for orthodontic camouflage along with a fixed functional appliance FORSUS FRD VTO showed improvement in the decreased airway parameters with Acoustic Pharyngometry and treatment objectives were accomplished orthodontically Both cases showed marked improvement in all airway parameters as predicted at the diagnostic stage The changes achieved post treatment corroborated with the pretreatment plan as planned Orthodontic treatment is aimed at improving the general health and esthetics of our patient s Acoustic pharyngometry is a valuable tool in for screening of the airway in three dimensions for all patients