Prediction of craniofacial relationship in sagittal and vertical plane using occlusal features

Abstract

Introduction: Orthodontic diagnosis often requires complex means and Orthodontists are always in search of simpler means for the said purpose. The purpose of this study was to determine whether occlusal features, over-jet and over-bite can be predictors of sagittal malocclusion and facial vertical pattern.

Material and Methods: The study was carried out on 102 orthodontic patients (28 males and 74 females), with age ranging from 12 - 34 years. Over-jet and over-bite were measured on obtained study casts of patients. Lateral cephalogram was traced to measure ANB angle and Witts value in sagittal plane and SN-MP angle in the vertical plane and a correlation was established.

Results: Correlation between over-jet, ANB and Witts was moderate (r = 0.495 and 0.475 respectively). Statistically insignificant correlation was found among over-jet and SN-MP (p=0.145). Over-bite increased as SN-MP decreased and as over-bite decreased, SN-MP increased, over-bite indicated 36.2% negative association with SN-MP which was statistically significant.

Conclusions: Although over-jet could be used for predicting the sagittal jaw relationship, it is not the predictor of vertical facial pattern. Over-bite is a good predictor of vertical facial pattern.