{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,3]],"date-time":"2026-09-03T00:05:50Z","timestamp":1788393950990,"version":"build-2803163510"},"reference-count":30,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"6","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,23]],"date-time":"2026-03-23T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1774224000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Diagnostics"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background: The anatomical position of the hyoid bone and the morphological characteristics of the soft palate play a key role in upper airway patency, craniofacial balance, and the coordination of functional structures. These features may vary depending on skeletal pattern and gender. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between hyoid bone position, soft palate morphology, skeletal classification, and gender using lateral cephalograms. Methods: A total of 120 individuals (60 females and 60 males) were classified as Skeletal Class I, II, or III based on the ANB (A Point\u2013Nasion\u2013B Point) angle. Measurements reflecting hyoid position and pharyngeal airway width were analyzed, including C3\u2013H (distance from the third cervical vertebra to the hyoid bone), C3\u2013RGn (distance from the third cervical vertebra to retrognathion), H\u2013RGn (distance from the hyoid bone to retrognathion), PNS\u2013UPW (distance from the posterior nasal spine to the upper pharyngeal wall), and U\u2013MPW (distance from the uvula to the middle pharyngeal wall). Soft palate types were classified according to the You classification. Statistical analyses included ANOVA (analysis of variance), the Kruskal\u2013Wallis test, the independent samples t-test, the Mann\u2013Whitney U test, and the chi-square test. Results: Significant differences in C3\u2013RGn, H\u2013RGn, and U\u2013MPW were observed between Skeletal Classes I\u2013III and Classes II\u2013III (p &lt; 0.05). In contrast, C3\u2013H and PNS\u2013UPW did not differ significantly among skeletal classes. Soft palate types showed no significant association with skeletal classification or gender. Gender-based comparisons revealed significant differences in C3\u2013H, C3\u2013RGn, H\u2013RGn, and PNS\u2013UPW (p &lt; 0.05). Conclusions: Mandibular-related hyoid measurements and the U\u2013MPW parameter were associated with skeletal pattern, whereas C3\u2013H and PNS\u2013UPW remained relatively stable. Soft palate morphology was not significantly influenced by skeletal class or gender. These findings suggest that the hyoid\u2013tongue\u2013soft palate complex should be evaluated in conjunction with mandibular position during orthodontic diagnosis and treatment planning.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/diagnostics16060947","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,23]],"date-time":"2026-03-23T13:53:34Z","timestamp":1774274014000},"page":"947","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Cephalometric Assessment of Airway-Related Hyoid Position and Velar Morphology Across Skeletal Malocclusions: A Cross-Sectional Study"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"16","author":[{"given":"Gizem Yazdan","family":"\u00d6zen","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Orthodontics, Division of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, Kafkas University, Kars 36100, T\u00fcrkiye"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8729-0914","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ali Ka\u011fan","family":"\u00d6zen","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Orthodontics, Division of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, Kafkas University, Kars 36100, T\u00fcrkiye"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Nebiha Hilal","family":"Bilge","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Division of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, Kafkas University, Kars 36100, T\u00fcrkiye"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,23]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"243","DOI":"10.1080\/08869634.2022.2121015","article-title":"Changes in hyoid bone and tongue position in class I subjects after orthodontic treatment with rapid palatal expander","volume":"43","author":"Tepedino","year":"2025","journal-title":"CRANIO\u00ae"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"85","DOI":"10.25301\/JPDA.323.85","article-title":"Cephalometric Association Between Various Shapes of Soft Palate with Different Growth Pattern and Age Groups in Skeletal Class I, II and III Malocclusion","volume":"32","author":"Ismail","year":"2023","journal-title":"J. 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