Sir, I read with interest the letter from D. Singh (Br Dent JÂ 2015;218: 368) regarding the reduction in oropharyngeal airway after orthodontic treatment involving extraction of premolars and retraction of incisor segments. It would also seem that headgear which restricts maxillary growth has a similar effect.1,2 Conversely, functional appliance therapy would appear to have the opposite effect enhancing the oropharyngeal airway.3,4,5 As there seems to be a relationship between oropharyngeal size and obstructive sleep apnea6,7,8 it would favour the functional approach to orthodontic treatment.
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Trenouth, M. In practice: Impact on the airway. Br Dent J 219, 561 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bdj.2015.936
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bdj.2015.936
