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Facial morphology and malocclusions.
1Department of Orthodontics, University of Giessen, West Germany.
Summary
Facial morphology partially reflects dental and jaw alignment issues. While some sagittal and vertical malrelationships are visible, others like Class III relationships and open bites are harder to detect from facial appearance alone.
Area of Science:
- Orthodontics and Dentofacial Morphology
- Craniofacial Analysis
- Cephalometrics
Background:
- Intermaxillary relationships significantly influence facial aesthetics.
- Accurate assessment of dental and skeletal discrepancies is crucial for orthodontic diagnosis.
- Understanding the correlation between intraoral findings and facial features aids in treatment planning.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the correlation between sagittal and vertical dental and jaw malrelationships and facial morphology in children.
- To determine the extent to which facial appearance reflects specific orthodontic conditions.
- To compare visual assessments with cephalometric measurements for diagnosing malrelationships.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of pretreatment facial photographs (frontal and profile) and lateral cephalograms of 172 children (aged 12-14).
- Visual appraisal of incisal tooth and jaw relationships from photographs.
- Comparison of linear and angular measurements from photographs and cephalograms, including ANB angle, mandibular plane angle, and anterior facial height index.
Main Results:
- A large overjet and Class II, Division 2 incisal relationship were frequently reflected in facial morphology.
- Class III incisal relationships and open bites were difficult to discern visually.
- Sagittal jaw positions were occasionally identifiable, while Class II jaw base relationships (large ANB angle) were readily apparent.
- Vertical jaw relationships showed high correlations between skeletal and soft tissue measurements (mandibular plane angle r=+0.93, anterior facial height index r=+0.86).
Conclusions:
- Facial morphology only partially reflects sagittal and vertical dental and skeletal intermaxillary malrelationships.
- Certain malrelationships, particularly vertical ones, are more reliably assessed through cephalometric analysis than visual inspection.
- High correlations exist between skeletal and soft tissue measurements, supporting the use of cephalometrics in diagnosing craniofacial discrepancies.