• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.28 no.3 s.68
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• pp.353-370
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• 1998

This study was conducted to investigate the changes in the structural parts of the craniofacial skeleton subsequent to chincap therapy in the juvenile skeletal Class III patients. The subject consisted of 29 Korean children(14 males, 15 females) who had skeletal Class III malocclusion and were undergone chincap therapy from the beginning of the treatment (and an auxilliary upper removable appliance, if necessary). The control group was composed of 21 children(10 males, 11 females) with skeletal Class III malocclusion who had no orthodontic treatment. Cephalometric data at the mean age of 7 and 2 years later were analyized by finite element method, and compared between groups by independent group t-test(p<0.05). The results of the present study were as follows; 1. There were no significant changes in the cranial base, posterior face, upper anterior face, ramus, chin and soft tissues by the chincap therapy. 2. The mandibular body showed significant differences in the minimum extention ratio and the overall shape ratio. This means that the vertical direction of growth was retarded by the chincap therapy. 3. The major direction of the growth in the maxillary basal bone was significantly more horizontal in the experimental group, which suggests that the vertical growth of maxilla was inhibited. 4. There was statistical difference in the major direction of the growth of the anterior face between groups. This may be due to the significant difference in the major direction of growth of the lower anterior face, supposed to be resulted from the mandibular rotation and/or displacement by the chincap therapy. The change in the oral functional space seemed to be caused by the same reason. 5. From the standpoint of these results, the retardation of growth, the changes of the growth direction and the morphological changes could be accepted partly, but the major effect of the chincap seems to be the rotation and the displacement of the mandible.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.26 no.5 s.58
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• pp.509-522
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• 1996

By studying the relationship between the morphology of mandibular symphysis and craniofacial morphology in classIII malocclusion, this study aims at deciding whether the morphogy of mandibular symphysis can be used as a predictor on the growth of mandible. The materials used for this study were the cephalometric radiographs of male class III malocclusion. The subjected age groups were 10-12(G1 group) and 20 and above(G2 group): 50 were selected from each group. Each group was again divided, according to the ratio of symphysis, into Large(L), Average(A), and Small(S). The results of this study were summarized as follows: 1. In average the ratio of symphysis, G2 group showed significantly bigger than G1 group(p<0.05) 2. In both G1 and G2 groups, the ratio of symphysis had no relationship with the measurements on the cranial base and the maxilla(p>0.05). 3. In both G1 and G2 groups, there was not distinct difference in the antero-posterior positions among L, A, S subgroups. 4. L and A subgroups showed significantly larger than S subgroup in lower gonial angle and chin angle in G1 group (p<0.05). 5. In the measurements on the vortical relation of the face, anterior total face height(ATFH) and anterior lower face height(ALFH) of L subgroup were significantly larger than that of S subgroup in G1 group(p<0.05) and also mandible showed a tendency to grow downward vertically. 6. In the measurements on the tooth position and inclination, L subgroup showed as compared with S subgroup a tendency of extrusion of maxillary and mandibular teeth in G1 group, but G2 group showed such tendency only in mandibular teeth. 7. In the measurements on the abnormal growth prediction by Schulhof, in G1, there was no significant difference among L, A, S sugroups. 8. In the correlative analysis of the ratio of symphysis and other measurements, G1 group showed significant correlationships in chin angle, PP/MP angie, ANS-Me and other, while G2 group showed the same only in MP-LIT and MP-LMMC(p<0.05, p<0.01). In summarizing the above, in the G1 group, consisting of young males, no difference was noted in horizontal relation between L and S subgroups; in vertical relation, L subgroup showed a stronger tendency of downward growth of mandible than S subgroup. In adult male G2 group, however, no distinct morphological difference of craniofacial complex by the ratio of symphysis.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.31 no.2 s.85
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• pp.225-236
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• 2001

It is widely accepted that the shape and structure of bone are closely related to the activity of attached muscle. Numerous clinical and animal experimental studies indicated the significant effects of masticatory muscle function on maxillofacial morphology. Recently, the development of ultrasonography has spread throughout different fields of medicine. In the clinical examinations, ultrasonography is a convenient, inexpensive technique to apply with accurate and reliable results. The aim of this study is to assess the thickness of the masseter muscle and its correlation to maxillofacial skeleton by examining 35 male and 15 female dental students at Kangnung National University. The masseter muscle thickness of the subjects were measured by ultrasonographic scanning with a 7.5MHz linear probe, and their maxillofacial morphology were investigated by lateral cephalometric radiographs. The relationship between the masseter muscle thickness and maxillofacial morphology of normal adult was statistically analyzed, and the following results were obtained. 1. The average thickness of male masseter muscle was 13.8${\pm}$1.71mm in the relaxed state and 14.8${\pm}$1.77mm at maximal clenching state, while that of female was 11.6${\pm}$1.58mm and 12.4${\pm}$1.47mm, respectively. Ethnic difference in thickness of the masseter muscle and maxillofacial skeleton was found when the results of many researchers were compared with those of this study. 2. The thickness of the masseter muscle in both sexes increased significantly at maximal clenching state than in relaxed state(P<0.05). 3. The masseter muscle thickness of male was greater than that of female both in the relaxed state and maximal clenching states(P<0.05). 4. In males, the thickness of the masseter muscle was negatively correlated with the mandibular plane angle and positively correlated with the mandibular ramus height and anterior cranial base length(P<0.05). It may suggest that the male with thicker masseter muscle has smaller facial divergence. 5. No significant correlation was found between the masseter muscle thickness and maxillofacial morphology in females(P<0.05). Therefore, these data suggest that ultrasonography can add valuable information to the conventional examinations of masseter muscle function.