Como realizar a análise tridimensional das vias aéreas superiores em pacientes ortodônticos?

The upper airways (UA) are influenced by the growth and development of the craniofacial complex and any alteration in the maxillary bones during orthodontic treatment can narrow or increase the size of the pharyngeal spaces. The three-dimensional analysis of the volume and the minimum axial area of the respective sub-spaces is beneficial for case planning as it allows the identification of possible physical barriers that compromise the air passage and the respiratory flow, besides being an auxiliary diagnostic method for disorders related to this function. The request for cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) is necessary for the correct digital evaluation with the appropriate protocols for the acquisition and reconstruction of the image exams, calibration of the methodology, and standardization of their analysis. The objective of this work is to demystify the specific step-by-step analysis in the Dolphin Imaging® software and to describe the technical and anatomical factors for delimiting the spaces corresponding to the UA. To illustrate this protocol, CBCT of a patient with Angle Class II malocclusion, first division were analyzed before the installation (T1) of a mandibular thruster (fixed cemented Herbst appliance with dental anchorage) and after 12 months of treatment (T2). From the measurement of the spaces corresponding to VAS, comparing the two treatment times, it was possible to analyze the changes in the pharyngeal space after the use of mandibular thruster and to highlight the importance of the three-dimensional assessment of the air dimension for individualized orthodontic planning.