The cephalometric study of skeletal types in Class III malocclusion with reduced lower anterior face height

Han, Dong Hun; Cha, Kyung Suk

Abstract

A given facial type can be considered as a syndrome in which various features are aggregated, so a single parameter is not sufficient to accurately identify a given facial type. This study was designed to identify & characterize the skeletal types that blend under the headline-'Cl III,deepbite'. Cephalograms of thirty-four untreated mixed dentition patients, selected mainly on the basis of clinical impression of CI III with reduced lower face heights were studied. The following conclusion can be drawn. 1. CI III malocclusion with reduced lower face height could be classified into three types. 2. Subtype 1 was identified by the following features : strong ramus, more anteriorly positioned upper molars without alveolar hypoplasia, acutely reduced Mn. plane angle. 3. Subtype 2 was characterized by a short ramus, sharply reduced postrior alveolar height, and normal Mn. plane angle. In general, this type had hypoplasia tendency in the vertical dimension. 4. In subtype 3, the AUFH occupying more percentage than ALFH was a outstanding feature. Ramal height was in normal range, alveolar hypoplasia and slightly reduced Mn. plane angle was observed. 5. The features of the subtypes were reflected in certain indices, which can be regarded as discriminative index. LAFH: if reduced, regardless of subtypes, indicates reduced lower ant. face height consistently. FHR: when this ratio is increased, it indicates subtype 1. FHl: when this ratio is in normal range, it indicates subtype 2. FPI: if reduced greatly, it indicates subtype 3.