Variation of Cranial Base Morphology among Different Sagittal Skeletal Malocclusion – A Cephalometric Study in Nepalese Population

Abstract

Introduction: Variation of cranial base morphology among different sagittal skeletal malocclusion has been evaluated previously by many studies. However, the findings of these studies conducted in different population differ due to racial/ ethnic differences. Objective: To obtain measurement data for various cranial base parameters and evaluate the variation in cranial base morphology among different sagittal skeletal malocclusion in Nepalese population. Materials and Methods: Manual tracing and measurement of 4 different cranial base parameters [linear- Anterior Cranial Base Length (ACBL), Posterior Cranial Base Length (PCBL) and Total Cranial Base Length (TCBL); angular - Cranial Base Angle (CBA)] were done on 90 pretreatment lateral cephalogram of healthy adult orthodontic patients. Study samples were matched for age and were equally distributed among three different sagittal skeletal malocclusion group using ANB angle. [skeletal Class I: 30, skeletal Class II: 30 and skeletal Class III: 30]. Analysis Of Variances [ANOVA] followed by Least Significant Difference (LSD) post hoc test was used to determine difference in cranial base measurements among three sagittal skeletal group. Results: While comparing the cranial base parameters among different sagittal skeletal class, mean value for all the parameters reduced systematically from skeletal Class II, via skeletal Class I, to skeletal Class III group. However, a statistically significant difference was found only for TCBL between skeletal Class II and skeletal Class III (p < 0.01). Conclusions: A significant difference in TCBL among different sagittal skeletal malocclusion was observed in Nepalese adults.