Title
Three-dimensional CBCT evaluation of nasal and pharyngeal airway changes after rapid maxillary expansion: A study among growing children
Authors
Hiba Ikhlas Zain1,*, B.L Prasanna Thathapudi2, Mandar Nandkishor Pathak3, Deekshith Shetty4, Thejaswini Nallamari5 & Dwijesh S. Goswami6
Affiliation
1Department of Orthodontist, Moses Dental Clinic, Guruvayur, Thrissur, Kerala-680101, India; 2Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial, Sree Sai Dental College, Ranasthali, New Colony, Srikakulam Andhra Pradesh-532001, India; 3Department of Orthodontics, SDDC Parbhani, Parawa, Maharashtra 431402, India; 4Department of Orthodontics, KVG Dental College and Hospital, Kurunjibagh, Sullia, Karnataka 574327, India; 5Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, CKS Theja Institute of Dental sciences and research, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh 517506, India; 6Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics, Ahmedabad Dental College and Hospital, Bhadaj - Ranchodpura Road, Off, Sardar Patel Ring, Ahmedabad, Gujarat 382115, India; *Corresponding author
Hiba Ikhlas Zain - E-mail: hibazainmether@gmail.com; Phone: +91 97452 23222
B.L Prasanna Thathapudi - E-mail: harmonyortho.ac@gmail.com; Phone: +91 8500376777
Mandar Nandkishor Pathak - E-mail: mandarpathak87@gmail.com; Phone: +91 8600264617
Deekshith Shetty - E-mail: dsk224469@gmail.com; Phone: +91 7907151041
Thejaswini Nallamari - E-mail: nsteju90@gmail.com; Phone: +91 7093793435
Dwijesh S. Goswami - E-mail: dwijeshgoswami@gmail.com; Phone: +91 9662447638
Article Type
Research Article
Date
Received April 1, 2026; Revised April 30, 2026; Accepted April 30, 2026, Published April 30, 2026
Abstract
Maxillary transverse deficiency in growing children is associated with compromised nasal airway dimensions and altered respiratory function. Therefore, it is of interest to evaluate three-dimensional nasal and pharyngeal airway changes in 68 children aged 8-14 years before and six months after rapid maxillary expansion. Significant increases were observed in total nasal cavity volume (26.0%, p<0.001), minimum nasal cross-sectional area (34.2%, p<0.001) and nasopharyngeal volume (20.0%, p<0.001), while oropharyngeal changes were not statistically significant (p>0.05). The magnitude of nasal volumetric gain showed moderate correlation with amount of skeletal expansion achieved (r=0.542, p<0.001). Thus, rapid maxillary expansion produces substantial and region-specific upper airway enlargement, primarily affecting nasal and nasopharyngeal compartments in growing patients.
Keywords
Rapid maxillary expansion (RME); cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT); upper airway; nasal cavity; pharyngeal airway; pediatric orthodontics; airway volume
Citation
Zain et al. Bioinformation 22(4): 1944-1948 (2026)
Edited by
A Prashanth
ISSN
0973-2063
Publisher
License
This is an Open Access article which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly credited. This is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License.
