Functional Airway Medicine: Integrating Otolaryngology, Dentofacial Structures, Trauma, and Sleep in a Multidisciplinary Clinical Model

Resumen

Functional airway medicine has emerged as an integrative framework that redefines the understanding of upper airway disorders by linking otolaryngology, dentofacial structures, maxillofacial trauma, and sleep-related breathing conditions within a unified clinical model. This review aimed to analyze the interaction between these domains and their collective influence on airway function and systemic health. A narrative review was conducted based on recent high-impact literature published from 2020 onward, focusing on studies related to nasal obstruction, craniofacial morphology, dental occlusion, trauma-related structural changes, and obstructive sleep apnea. The findings demonstrate that airway dysfunction is a multifactorial process in which ENT pathology, mandibular positioning, dentofacial structure, and neuromuscular dynamics interact continuously. Nasal obstruction and upper airway alterations were identified as primary contributors to airflow limitation, while dentofacial factors and craniofacial morphology significantly influenced airway dimensions and collapsibility. Maxillofacial trauma was found to play an important role in long-term airway alteration, particularly through structural changes affecting nasal and mandibular alignment. Sleep-related breathing disorders, especially obstructive sleep apnea, were identified as the clinical expression of these combined factors. Additionally, the relationship between airway dysfunction and systemic conditions such as cardiovascular and metabolic disease highlights the broader health implications of airway pathology.