CBCT's can be helpful not only for evaluating the temporomandibular joints and looking at the cortex and integrity of the bone and joint spacing, but also for airway.
With CBCT's, we can evaluate the nasal passages.
We look at CBCT's for airway in our practice by looking at the nasal passages and seeing if there's deviated septums or obstructions that may be visible on those. We will track it right on down around the corner, down the posterior airway. We get a general feel for the diameter of the airway itself to see if it seems to be closed. An example of this would be with large tonsils, you can see a very narrow passage of that airway.
We also will use software to take a look at airway dimensions.
There is some discussion about that as far a patient's position and tongue position. Some of these things need to be understood, but there is some very nice value to using CBCT's to looking at airway concerns.
Learn more about airway and breathing disorders at one of our upcoming courses.
