RESEARCH ARTICLE panoramic area, and the right cephalometric area with the right panoramic area. In the course of analyzing the subjective assessments and all the objective measurements, a data point or statistical divide was identi-fied that distinguishes normal and abnormal nasal airways. The normal airways group had a range of nasal volumes from 2.78 cm3 to 4.57 cm3, and nasal cross-sectional area rang-ing from 0.32 cm2 to 0.50 cm2. The mean normal nasal volume and mean normal nasal cross-sectional area for 6-9 year old Caucasian subjects in this study were 3.85 cm3 and 0.42 cm2 respectively. The values are in close agreement with those referenced from Straszek9 for this population. Those values were 0.33 cm2 and 3.51 cm3 for normal nasal cross-sectional area and nasal volume respectively. The abnormal group presented with nasal volumes ranging from 1.54 cm3 to 2.68 cm3, and their nasal cross-sectional areas were between 0.12 cm2 and 0.34 cm2. The mean abnormal nasal volume and mean abnormal nasal cross-sectional area for 6-9 year old Caucasian subjects in our study were 2.26 cm3 and 0.25 cm2 respectively. This evidence can help the dental clinician identify those patients who have airway abnor-malities that need to be addressed before treatment commences if a positive outcome is to be expected. The ImageJ measurement for ante-rior nasal area observed on panoramic radiographs was 8879.90 pixels for the abnormal group, and 20647.68 pixels for the normal subjects. Additionally, the ImageJ measurements for anterior nasal area observed on PA cephalometric radiographs were 3851.53 pixels for the abnormal group, and 11143.38 pixels for the normal subjects. These reference values can be used in place of the error-prone subjec-tive assessment, and thus add a greater degree of certainty when distinguishing between normal and abnormal nasal airways. The clinical relationship between airway patency and orthodontic retention warrants further investigation. As does the 24 July/August 2010 JAOS effects of orthodontic treatment on nasal airway obstruction. Having a more profound knowl-edge about the effect of partially obstructed airways on dental intervention will help us improve our dental care for all children. A very strong correlation was found between the anterior nasal cross-sectional area calculated from the radiographs, and the anterior nasal cross-sectional area and nasal volume from the rhinometer. The acoustic rhinometer can be a very instrumental and reliable adjunct during the course of treating a dental or orthodontic patient. By noting the nasal health status of the patient in detail before and through-out treatment, the dentist or orthodontist can properly account for the role of the nasal airway in diagnosis, treatment planning, and outcomes assessments, and make a proper referral to the otolaryngolo-gist for treatment if need be. 1. Moss, M.L. The functional matrix. In Kraus, B.S. and Riedel, R.A., ed. Vistas in Orthod., Lea and Febiger. Pp. 85-98, 1962. References 2.Subtelny J.D. Oral respiration: facial maldevelopment and corrective dentofa-cial orthopedics. Angle Orthodontist. 50(3):147-64, 1980 Jul. 3.Ozbek M.M. Oropharyngeal airway dimensions and functional-orthopedic treatment in skeletal Class II cases. Angle Orthodontist. 68(4):327-36, 1998 Aug. 4. Marks, M.B. Allergy in relation to orofacial dental deformities in children: A review. Journal of Allergy 36(3):293-301, May-June 1965. 5. Scott J.H. The growth of the nasal cavi-ties. Acta otolaryng. (Stockh.), 50, 215-223, 1959. 6. Scott J.H. The cartilage of the nasal septum. Brit dent. J., 95, 37-43. 1953. 7.Weider D. Dental malocclusion and upper airway obstruction, an otolaryngol-ogist’s perspective. International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology. 67(4):323, 2003 Jan. 8.Sassouni V. The influence of perennial allergic rhinitis on facial type and a pilot study of the effect of allergy management on facial growth patterns. Annals of Allergy 54(6):493-7, June 1985. 9.Straszek S.P. Reference values for acous-tic rhinometry in children from 4 to 13 years old. American Journal of Rhinology. 22, 285-291, 2008. 10. Shapiro G.G., Shapiro P.A. Nasal airway obstruction and facial develop-ment. Clinical Reviews in Allergy and Immunology. Vol. 2 Num. 3, 225-235. 1984. 11. Lopatien K. Babarskas A. Malocclu-sion and upper airway obstruction. Medicina. 38(3), 2002 Jan. 12.Stensson M. Oral health in pre-school children with asthma. International Jour-nal of Pediatric Dentistry, Volume 18 Issue 4 Page 243-250, July 2008 13.Trask G.M. The effects of perennial rhinitis on dental and skeletal develop-ment: a comparison of sibling pairs. Amer. J. Orthod. Orthop 92(4):286-293, October 1987. 14.Linder-Aronson S. The effect of adenoids on mode of breathing and nasal airflow and their relationship to charac-teristics of the facial skeleton and the dentition. Acta Otolaryng Suppl 265:118-123, 1970. 15. Bresolin D. Mouth Breathing in aller-gic children: its relationship to dentofa-cial development. Amer J Orthodont 1983;83(4):334-40. 16. Grim D.L. Seeing the larger medical picture: airway enhancement for true orthodontic health. Journal of General Orthodontics. 6(3):5-8, 1995 Sep. 17. Kawashima S. Cephalometric compar-isons of craniofacial and upper airway structures in young children with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. Ear, Nose & Throat Journal. 2000 Jul. 18. Corey JP. Clinical applications of acoustic rhinometry (Nose and paranasal sinuses). Current Opinion in Otolaryn-gology & Head and Neck Surgery. Vol. 10(1): 22-25, 2002 Feb. 19. Hilberg O. Acoustic Rhinometry: eval-uation of nasal cavity geometry by acous-tic reflection. J. Appl. Phsyiol. 1989. 66: 295-303. 20. Rasband W.S. ImageJ, U.S. National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA, http://rsb.info.nih.gov/ij/, 1997-2006. 21. Kamal I. Acoustic Reflectometry of the Nose and Pharynx. Brown Walker Press. 2004. 55-67. 22. Min, Y.G. Jang, Y.J. Measurements of cross-sectional area of the nasal cavity by acoustic rhinometry and CT scanning. Laryngoscope 105:757-9, 1994. 23.Smith R.M. Gonzalez C. The relation-ship between nasal obstruction and cran-iofacial growth. Pediatric Clinics of North America. 36(6):1423-34, 1989 Dec.
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