Abstract:

Upper airway narrowing or collapse will not only result in snoring and obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome，but will also lead to compensatory oral breathing. Many years′  experience of oral breathing will induce a series of dentofacial anomalies. Orthodontists can either correct the dentofacial malocclusion of children or juveniles via various kinds of appliances，following adenoidectomy and tonsillectomy， or enlarge upper airway through repositioning the jaw and tongue of an adult patient. To sum up，an orthodontist can play an independent or collaborative role in the upper airway management across one′ s life span.

Key words: obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome, OSAHS；upper airway management

摘要：

上气道狭窄或塌陷不仅导致鼾症及阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停低通气综合征（OSAHS），而且引起代偿性口呼吸。对于儿童及青少年患者，长期口呼吸可引发一系列牙颌颅面畸形。在清除上气道内肥大的扁桃体腺样体等软组织后，正畸医生可借助各种矫治器纠正儿童青少年患者牙颌面畸形，亦可通过调整成人患者颌骨及舌体位置以扩大上气道。可见，正畸医生在生命全周期的上气道管理中可发挥独立的或协同的治疗作用。

关键词: 阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停低通气综合征, OSAHS, 上气道管理