Cephalometric assessment of patients with adenoidal faces

To evaluate the dentofacial morphology of adenoidal faces via linear and angular measurements on lateral cephalometric tracings and compare the extent of changes with control group.

A cross sectional study was conducted from January to July 2007 at the Department of Orthodontics, de'Montmorency Institute of Dental Sciences/Punjab Dental Hospital, Lahore (tertiary health center). As a non probability purposive sampling, total of 90 cephalometric radiographs of subjects (12 to 17 years of age) 45 with adenoidal faces and 45 subjects having normal class I and orthognathic profile were collected and utilized in the study. Subject with cranio-facial anomalies and syndromes, history of previous orthodontic treatment or trauma to the head and neck region were excluded. The collected data was entered on SPSS version 10 and analyzed by using, Paired 't' test.

Significant difference is seen among the readings showing a drastically vertical pattern of growth in dentofacial complex, except the palatal inclination angle.

The findings suggest that the subjects with upper airway obstruction display excessive vertical dentofacial development, leading to a long face appearance. The condition needs to be prevented by early recognition and treatment of the causative factor.