Changes in hyoid bone position from 6 to 16 years: A longitudinal study

Authors

Manraj Dhaliwal, University of the Pacific
Umneet Kaur Banvait, University of the Pacific
Divya Vadlamudi, University of the Pacific
Jashandeep Kaur, University of the Pacific
Kaiyuan Xu, University of the Pacific
Mai Nguyen, University of the Pacific
HeeSee Oh, University of the Pacific

Lead Author Affiliation

Orthodontics

Additional Authors

7th author Department: Orthodontics

Introduction/Context/Diagnosis

The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between hyoid bone position and morphologic characteristic parameters of oropharynx, maxilla and mandible

Methods/Treatment Plan

This is a mixed-longitudinal study using lateral cephalograms obtained from the University of Michigan Elementary and Secondary School Growth Study. The sample consisted of 678 subjects (326 males and 352 females) from age 3 to 18years and 2917 lateral cephalometric radiographs were studied. The lateral cephalometric landmarks were digitized independently by three judges and average values were recorded in numeric database in which cephalometric measurements were calculated by computer operation. Changes in hyoid bone position and measurements of the maxilla and mandible were evaluated at 4 time points at ages of 6, 9, 12, 16 years. Pearson regression analysis was performed; measurements of the hyoid bone position were selected as independent variables and morphologic characteristic parameters of oropharynx, maxilla and mandible as the dependent variables.

Results/Outcome

Significant negative correlation was found between the horizontal position of hyoid bone (Hyo_X) and mandibular plane angle, and oropharynx airway width at ages of 6, 9, 12 and 16years. A positive correlation was found between Hyo_X and PNS_X at all four time points ranging from r=0.48 to r=72 (p<.0001). No difference was found in hyoid bone position between males and females. However, there was a difference after puberty, with males growing more and for a longer period of time than females, and most specifically in regards to hyoid bone position in relation to the mandible.

Significance/Conclusions

During the period of growth, the hyoid descends as the cervical vertebrae increase their height and posterior cranial base and mandible descend. The results revealed that a significant correlation was observed between the horizontal position of hyoid bone and the mandibular plane angle suggesting that more posterior position of hyoid bone is found in hyperdivergent skeletal facial type.

Comments/Acknowledgements

This work was supported by NIH/NIDCR: R01 DE024732-01A1 and the AAOF Craniofacial Growth Legacy Collection.

Location

University of the Pacific, Dugoni Dental School, San Francisco, CA

Format

Poster

Poster Session

Faculty, Student, and Staff Presentations