Evaluación tridimensional de la vía aérea mediante tomografía computarizada de haz de cono

background: changes in the normal function of the airway during the active process of facial growth can have a significant influence on facial development. objective: to present the usefulness of the evaluation of airway beam computed tomography cone. methods: images of 250 women and 128 men using the program sidexis to galilee were reviewed. the selection of areas to be measured was determined by the coordinates that pass through the canal in the sagittal plane nasopalatine and interproximal area of the upper central incisors in the coronal plane. results:a moderate negative correlation, but statistically significant between patient age and area of the airway in both sexes was found. there was a moderate positive correlation, statistically significant between the length of the soft palate and age in both sexes. a correlation of cross-sectional area and length of the soft palate was also showed. conclusions: the beam computed tomography cone provides a reliable three-dimensional image of the spatial relationship between the teeth and face and surrounding anatomical structures allowing adequate assessment of the tissues.