Relationships of sagittal skeletal discrepancy, natural head position, and craniocervical posture in young Chinese children

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships of sagittal skeletal discrepancy, natural head position (NHP), and craniocervical posture in young Chinese children with average vertical facial pattern.Methods: Ninety patients with average Frankfort mandibular plane angle (FH/ML) were classified into skeletal class I, II, and III relationships according to their ANB angle. Cephalometric radiographs in NHP were taken. Variables representing sagittal and vertical craniofacial morphology, head posture, and craniocervical posture were measured and compared.Results: Subjects in the skeletal class II group showed the largest craniovertical angles and craniocervical angles, while subjects in the skeletal class III group exhibited the smallest craniovertical angles and craniocervical angles, though not all the measurements showed significant differences. The angle formed by the nasion-sella line and the tangent to the posterior border of the mandibular ramus (NSL/RL) was largest in the skeletal class II group and smallest in the skeletal class III group (p = 0.05).Discussion: Significant differences exist in NHP and craniocervical posture among skeletal class I, II, and III relationships in young Chinese children. Subjects with skeletal class II relationship tended to exhibit more extended head, and children with skeletal class III relationship often exhibited flexed head.