3D CBCT Imaging and Airway in the Orthodontic Office

Traditionally we are trained to see and analyze the airway from only the lateral view on a cephalometric film, but the airway is a three-dimensional (3D) structure, and that third dimension may be hiding something relevant to our diagnosis. With more than 80 respiratory disorders, the orthodontist can play a significant role helping children and adults, specially regarding Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). This presentation will show how the orthodontist can help identify and manage OSA in pediatric and adult patients, from using oral appliances, to surgical movement of the jaws, and newest hypoglossal stimulation methods. When moving from 2D to 3D, distances and angles turn into areas and volumes, and understanding the airway may take orthodontics to the next level, increasing the scope of what can be done clinically.

Learning Objectives:

• Perform sleep disorder risk assessment separately for adults and teenage patients.
• Analyze a segmented airway.
• Identify how a CPAP works differently than a hypoglossal nerve stimulation.