Mandibular antegonial notch depth distribution and its relationship with craniofacial morphology in different skeletal patterns

Abstract

Background: Antegonial notch is a small concavity at the inferior surface of the mandible. The purpose of this study is to identify the distribution of mandibular antegonial notch depth and its relationship with craniofacial morphology in different skeletal patterns. Materials and method: The sample included 191 pretreatment digital lateral cephalometric radiographs (93 males, 98 females) collected from the Orthodontic Department in the College of Dentistry, University of Baghdad. The sample was divided into three groups according to the skeletal classes, and then each group divided according to depth of mandibular antegonial notch into: shallow, medium, and deep groups. Sixteen angular and thirteen linear measurements were used. Results: Cl I had the highest percentage of medium antegonial notch. Cl II had the highest percentage of deep notch, while Cl III had the highest percentage of shallow notch. Males had significantly deeper notch than females in Cl I and Cl II. Significant difference found between males skeletal Cl II and Cl III. The craniofacial measurements showed significant changes with the increase in antegonial notch depth variably in different classes. Conclusions: Angular measurements of cranial base more concerned with mandibular morphology than linear measurements. The increase in vertical growth pattern and backward rotation of the mandible in association with the increase in notch depth appeared particularly in skeletal Cl II.