Glenoid fossa position in different facial types: a cephalometric study

The purpose of the present study was to analyse the position of the glenoid fossa in subjects with different sagittal and vertical skeletal features. A cephalometric study was carried out on a sample of 180 subjects (90 males and 90 females, aged 7-12 years) who were combined to form three groups (60 subjects each) according to skeletal sagittal relationships and three groups (60 subjects each) according to skeletal vertical relationships. Cephalometric analysis comprised both sagittal and vertical measurements for the assessment of the position of the glenoid fossa in relation to surrounding skeletal structures. As for sagittal measurements, TMJ position was more posterior in skeletal Class II when compared with skeletal Class III. In the vertical plane, the position of the glenoid fossa relative to basicranial structures was more caudal in low angle subjects when compared with subjects with normal or high angle vertical relationships. Both basicranial structures and the posterior nasal spine may be used as reference structures for the assessment of vertical position of the glenoid fossa in diagnosis and treatment planning.