groved
Iron
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I did a facial ct scan and i’m gonna show what chat gpt said about my scan because it’s hard to understand it by just looking.
The CT scan provides a detailed view of the upper airway, nasal passages, and palate from multiple angles (axial, coronal, and sagittal). Based on the visible structures, several key anatomical features can be observed that relate to breathing efficiency, oral posture, and orthodontic development.
1. Palate Shape and Width
The palate appears relatively narrow and high-arched, forming more of a V-shaped rather than a broad U-shaped curve. This configuration suggests transverse constriction of the upper jaw (maxilla), particularly in the posterior region behind the first molars. A deeper palatal vault like this often corresponds to reduced nasal floor width and limited tongue space, which can influence breathing patterns and oral posture.
The midpalatal suture, which is the joint dividing the left and right halves of the maxilla, appears visible but may be partially fused due to age. At 16 years old, this suture is typically less responsive to traditional expansion methods, though it may still show some flexibility depending on individual skeletal development.
Overall, the palate’s form and proportions suggest a mild to moderate skeletal constriction, which could influence both dental crowding and airway size.
2. Nasal Airway
The nasal passages appear structurally clear, with no major obstruction or sinus blockage. The nasal septum seems mostly straight, though there may be a minor deviation toward one side in the lower portion. The inferior turbinates (soft tissue ridges inside the nasal cavity) show slight asymmetry, which is common and can contribute to uneven airflow between sides.
Because the palate forms the floor of the nasal cavity, a narrow palate typically reduces nasal base width. This can result in less efficient airflow through the nose, encouraging mouth breathing or snoring, especially during sleep. Expansion of the palate — if possible — can indirectly increase nasal volume, improving airflow and breathing comfort.
3. Airway and Oral Space
The sagittal (side) views reveal a moderately sized airway, with no extreme constriction but signs of limited space behind the soft palate and tongue. The soft palate extends close to the back wall of the throat (posterior pharynx), which may slightly narrow the oropharyngeal space. The tongue appears positioned relatively low, likely adapting to the narrow, high-arched palate, which offers limited lateral room for rest posture.
Together, these features suggest an airway that is functional but not maximally open, meaning airflow could be mildly restricted, particularly during sleep or nasal congestion.
4. Palate Expander Considerations
Palatal expansion can serve both orthodontic and airway-improvement purposes. However, the type of expander that may be effective depends on suture maturity and growth potential.
An orthodontist would assess this alongside your bite, jaw alignment, and facial growth pattern. An ENT specialist might also evaluate nasal airflow, septal alignment, and turbinate size to determine if airway issues are contributing to any symptoms like congestion, mouth breathing, or snoring.
5. Summary of Findings
The CT scan shows a well-developed craniofacial structure but with signs of maxillary constriction and mild airway limitation that could be improved through guided expansion. While this analysis cannot replace a professional diagnosis, it suggests that palatal expansion could offer both functional and structural benefits — particularly if nasal breathing, sleep quality, or crowding are concerns.
A final treatment plan should be based on a full orthodontic and ENT evaluation, including assessments of suture fusion, growth status, and respiratory function.
So based on the analyse of chat gpt do you guys think i have a chance to get a palate expander because it’s the not the ortho that’s gonna analyse it first it’s the OMFS (oral maxillo facial surgeon) i hope she won’t suggest me septoplasty instead of palate expansion. If you are lazy to read all of this i can just show you the imaging results of my scan
The CT scan provides a detailed view of the upper airway, nasal passages, and palate from multiple angles (axial, coronal, and sagittal). Based on the visible structures, several key anatomical features can be observed that relate to breathing efficiency, oral posture, and orthodontic development.
1. Palate Shape and Width
The palate appears relatively narrow and high-arched, forming more of a V-shaped rather than a broad U-shaped curve. This configuration suggests transverse constriction of the upper jaw (maxilla), particularly in the posterior region behind the first molars. A deeper palatal vault like this often corresponds to reduced nasal floor width and limited tongue space, which can influence breathing patterns and oral posture.
The midpalatal suture, which is the joint dividing the left and right halves of the maxilla, appears visible but may be partially fused due to age. At 16 years old, this suture is typically less responsive to traditional expansion methods, though it may still show some flexibility depending on individual skeletal development.
Overall, the palate’s form and proportions suggest a mild to moderate skeletal constriction, which could influence both dental crowding and airway size.
2. Nasal Airway
The nasal passages appear structurally clear, with no major obstruction or sinus blockage. The nasal septum seems mostly straight, though there may be a minor deviation toward one side in the lower portion. The inferior turbinates (soft tissue ridges inside the nasal cavity) show slight asymmetry, which is common and can contribute to uneven airflow between sides.
Because the palate forms the floor of the nasal cavity, a narrow palate typically reduces nasal base width. This can result in less efficient airflow through the nose, encouraging mouth breathing or snoring, especially during sleep. Expansion of the palate — if possible — can indirectly increase nasal volume, improving airflow and breathing comfort.
3. Airway and Oral Space
The sagittal (side) views reveal a moderately sized airway, with no extreme constriction but signs of limited space behind the soft palate and tongue. The soft palate extends close to the back wall of the throat (posterior pharynx), which may slightly narrow the oropharyngeal space. The tongue appears positioned relatively low, likely adapting to the narrow, high-arched palate, which offers limited lateral room for rest posture.
Together, these features suggest an airway that is functional but not maximally open, meaning airflow could be mildly restricted, particularly during sleep or nasal congestion.
4. Palate Expander Considerations
Palatal expansion can serve both orthodontic and airway-improvement purposes. However, the type of expander that may be effective depends on suture maturity and growth potential.
- At age 16, the midpalatal suture is often partially or fully fused, which makes traditional expanders (RPE) less effective for skeletal change.
- More advanced techniques such as MARPE (Mini-Implant Assisted Rapid Palatal Expansion) or SARPE (Surgically Assisted Rapid Palatal Expansion) are typically used at this stage to achieve true bone widening rather than just dental tipping.
- Increased nasal airway space
- Improved nasal breathing
- Better tongue posture
- Broader upper arch for balanced occlusion
An orthodontist would assess this alongside your bite, jaw alignment, and facial growth pattern. An ENT specialist might also evaluate nasal airflow, septal alignment, and turbinate size to determine if airway issues are contributing to any symptoms like congestion, mouth breathing, or snoring.
5. Summary of Findings
- The palate is high and narrow, contributing to a slightly constricted nasal floor.
- The airway is moderate in size, with minor potential narrowing behind the soft palate.
- Sinuses appear clear, and septal deviation is minimal.
- These features are consistent with a skeletal pattern that may benefit from transverse expansion, depending on suture flexibility.
- Expansion options at this age often include MARPE or SARPE for meaningful skeletal change.
The CT scan shows a well-developed craniofacial structure but with signs of maxillary constriction and mild airway limitation that could be improved through guided expansion. While this analysis cannot replace a professional diagnosis, it suggests that palatal expansion could offer both functional and structural benefits — particularly if nasal breathing, sleep quality, or crowding are concerns.
A final treatment plan should be based on a full orthodontic and ENT evaluation, including assessments of suture fusion, growth status, and respiratory function.
So based on the analyse of chat gpt do you guys think i have a chance to get a palate expander because it’s the not the ortho that’s gonna analyse it first it’s the OMFS (oral maxillo facial surgeon) i hope she won’t suggest me septoplasty instead of palate expansion. If you are lazy to read all of this i can just show you the imaging results of my scan
