Changes in the pharyngeal airway after different orthognathic procedures for correction of class III dysplasia.

The mandibular setback procedure caused the greatest reduction in the pharyngeal airway, followed by the bimaxillary surgery and maxillary advancement groups, with the latter exhibiting an actual increase in the pharyngeal airway dimensions. It is recommended to prefer a two-jaw operation instead of a mandibular setback alone for correction of the prognathic mandible in subjects with predisposing factors to the development of sleep-disordered breathing.