Analysis of Frontal Sinus Dimensions According to the Skeletal Malocclusion in German Teenagers

The present study explored the association between the craniofacial sagittal skeletal patterns and frontal sinus dimensions in Germans. This cross-sectional study included orthodontic patients with age ranging from 11 to 18 (80 males, 82 females). Lateral cephalograms were used in the cephalometric and frontal sinus analysis. Cephalometric analysis was performed to measure SNA, SNB and ANB angles. Frontal sinus measurements were performed to obtain the frontal sinus height, antero-posterior dimension and frontal sinus lateral projection area. The frontal sinus dimensions were compared between genders with Mann Withney test. Kruskal Wallis and Dunn's post-hoc tests were used to compare the mean differences between the skeletal malocclusions. Spearman's correlation test and linear regression model were also performed. Statistical significance was set at 5%. Regarding skeletal malocclusion, 71 patients presented class I, 81 class II and 10 class III skeletal malocclusion. The frontal sinus height (p=0.009), frontal sinus antero-posterior dimension (p=0.001) and frontal sinus lateral projection area (p=0.007) were bigger in males than in females. The frontal sinus antero-posterior dimension was significantly greater in the class III when compared to the class I (p=0.010) and class II (p=0.027). Frontal sinus lateral projection area was also bigger in class III than class I (p=0.039). In the linear regression model a significant association was observed between frontal sinus lateral projection area and class III (skeletal class I as a reference). In conclusion, our result suggests that the frontal sinus lateral projection area might present morphometric differences in German teenagers with skeletal class III malocclusion.