Three-Dimensional Evaluation of Maxilla and Cranial Base of Adults with Different Craniofacial Patterns

Hypothesis: There are no difference of components of cranial base and maxilla in adults with different craniofacial patterns. Objective: To evaluate the correlation of various linear, angular, and volumetric measurements of subjects’ maxilla and cranial base with different craniofacial skeletal patterns, utilizing 3D CBCT images. Methods: Pre-treatment CBCT images from 331, adults (115 males and 216 females; aged 18 to 45) were uploaded into Dolphin Imaging software for categorizing the samples, measuring different linear, angular, and volumetric parameters of maxilla and cranial base. Geomagic control X software was used for palatal vault air volume measurement. The samples were grouped into class I, II, and III skeletal type; and subgrouped into hyperdivergent, normodivergent, and hypodivergent, based on their vertical craniofacial patterns. Differences in maxillary sagittal length, maxilla width, maxillary arch width, palatal convergence, palatal height, anterior cranial and posterior cranial base length, cranial base angle, facial width, maxillary bone volume and palatal volume amongst the skeletal categories were evaluated. Statistical analyses were conducted to determine differences of variables at significance level of 0.05. Results: There were significant differences of studied parameters between males and females and among class I, II and III skeletal types. In class I skeletal group, palatal height at first molar area, deepest height of the palate and total cranial base length showed significant differences among different vertical patterns. In class II skeletal group, palatal height at first molar area and maxillary arch width at first premolar area showed significant differences. In class III skeletal group, no parameter showed significant difference. Conclusions: The results in this study provide preliminary result of differences of upper facial structure among various skeletal types and can be beneficial as tool for future orthodontic diagnosis and treatment planning as well as anthropologic study. IRB/ACC protocol: IRB# 2018-0801