Evaluation of palatine depth and dimensions of the upper dental arch in patients with malocclusion and different facial types

Andrea ESTEVES, Silvana BOMMARITO

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate palatine depth and dimensions of the upper dental arch in patients with malocclusion and different facial types. Methods: The sample was constituted of profile cephalograms and dental casts of 135 individuals, 67 females and 68 males, with age between 12 to 21 years and malocclusions: Class I (n = 45), Class II (n = 45) and Class III (n = 45), Angle. The sample was divided in three groups, according to the facial type: brachyfacial (n = 45), mesofacial (n = 45) and dolichofacial (n = 45). The transversal dimensions (intercuspids and inter-first molars distances) and upper dental arch length were obtained with auxiliary of digital caliper. In order, to obtain palatine depth measurement was used a special equipment developed and adapted to the digital caliper. Results and Conclusion: Based on our results, we concluded that: (1) no statistically significant differences between these measurements were found considering the facial types, except for the palatine depth, that was smaller in brachyfacial group (18.18mm) than dolichofacial group (19.52mm); (2) according to sex, only two variables, the depth palatine and inter-first molar distance, demonstrated statistically significant differences, that appeared to be bigger in males than females; (3) according to the malocclusion, statistically significant differences between these measurements were found only to the upper dental arch length, that was bigger in Class II group (31.23mm) than Class III group (29.64mm).

Keywords: Upper dental arch. Facial types. Malocclusion.

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