Study of craniofacial relations and facial types in Greek population with normal occlusion

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the range of certain skeletal structures and investigate their relationship and facial types in Greeks with normal occlusion. 123 lateral cephalometric radiographs obtained from 65 males and 58 females (mean age: 24 and 23 years respectively) with normal occlusion were studied at the Dental School of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. Angles SNA, SNB, NL-NSL, ML-NSL, NSBa and ML-NL were measured and analysed. Females presented significantly greater posterior inclination of the mandible (ML-NSL) and larger cranial deflection (NSBa) than males. Correspondence Analysis determined the relationships between the six variables and resulted in grouping the sample into 3 different facial types: (1) Type A (Prognathic), characterised by high SNA and SNB values, anterior-upper inclination of the maxilla, anterior inclination of the mandible and small cranial deflection; (2) Type V (Orthognathic), with intermediate values, which correspond to medium type of the normal range; and (3) Type C (Retrognathic), characterised by low SNA and SNB values, posterior inclination of both, the maxilla and the mandible, and high cranial deflection. These relationships were similar for both males and females.