A ROENTGENOCEPHALOMETRIC STUDY ON MANDIBULAR PROGNATHISM

하악(下顎) 전돌증(前突症)에 관(關)한 방사선(放射線) 두부계측학적(頭部計測學的) 연구(硏究)

This investigation was designed to compare the craniofacial and dental morphology of class III malocclusion with that of normal occlusin in children, and to determine the incidence of various class III craniofacial skeletal patterns. The material selected for this study consisted in standard lateral cephalograms of eighty two Korean children, forty one boys and forty one girls, aged 10 through 12 years, having class III malocclusion, and forty two Korean children, twenty boys and twenty two girls, with normal occlusion in the same age. Using the tracings of the standard lateral cephalograms, various angular and linear measurements were recorded, tabulated and statistically analyzed, and then the class III craniofacial skeletal morphology was divided into various patterns by the degree of SNA and SNB, which respectively were below, within or beyond the normal range of those of normal occlusion. The following characteristics of the craniofacial and dental morphology of class III malocclusion were observed. 1. The cranial base length of class III malocclusion was smaller than that of normal occlusion, and the small saddle angle was a characteristic figure of class III malocclucion. 2. Maxillary length of class III malocclusion was smaller than that of normal occlusion, and point A was retropositioned relative to cranial base but not PNS in class III malocclusion. Maxillary base inclination was not significantly different between the two, but occlusal plane to palatal plane was small in class III malocciusion. 3. The mandibular body length shown no difference between the two, but the mandibular body positioned anteriorly relative to cranial base in class III malocclusion. Ramus height, gonial angle, and mandibular effective length were large in class III malocclusion. Mandibular plane angle and joint angle had no difference between the two, and occlusal plane to mandibular plane angle was large in class III malocclusion. 4. Maxillary incisor inclination was not significantly different between class III malocclusion and normal occlusion, but mandibular incisors positioned and inclined lingually and consequently interincisal angle was large in class III malocclusion. 5. Class III malocclusion was divided into six categories of craniofacial skeletal pattern. The most common class III pattern was found to be one in which the maxilla was within the normal range of prognathism while the mandible extended beyond this range. The pattern in which the maxilla was below the normal range of prognathism while the mandible was within this range was approximately one fifth of the class III sample.