Evaluation of maxillary atresia associated with facial type

Abstracts

OBJETIVOS: associar a atresia maxilar aos tipos faciais, verificar o dimorfismo entre os gêneros masculino e feminino, bem como a correlação entre os gêneros e os tipos faciais. MÉTODOS: inicialmente, a amostra constou de 258 telerradiografias da cabeça, em norma lateral. Após aplicada a análise do Vert de Ricketts, foram excluídas 108 telerradiografias, por não satisfazerem o critério de seleção. Portanto, a amostra final foi de 150 telerradiografias e 150 modelos pertencentes a 150 indivíduos brancos na faixa etária de 14 anos a 18 anos e 11 meses, independentemente do tipo de má oclusão. A mesma foi dividida em: 50 mesofaciais; 50 braquifaciais e 50 dolicofaciais. Para os 150 modelos, aplicou-se a análise de Schwarz. RESULTADOS: a presença da atresia maxilar na amostra selecionada correspondeu a 64% nos dolicofaciais, 58% nos braquifaciais e 52% nos mesofaciais. CONCLUSÕES: não houve evidência de associação da atresia com o tipo facial. Quanto ao dimorfismo de gênero, foi proporcionalmente maior para o dolicofacial masculino enquanto o feminino não apresentou proporções diferentes.

Atresia maxilar; Análise de Schwarz; Tipos faciais

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

^IMSc in Orthodontics, CPO São Leopoldo Mandic. Head and Professor of Specialization and Improvement in the area of Orthodontics, Funorte/SOEBRÁS, Alfenas/MG

^IISpecialist in Orthodontics, CFO. Professor of Orthodontics, FOP/UNICAMP (retired). Professor of the Masters in Dentistry Program CPO São Leopoldo Mandic

^IIISpecialist in Orthodontics, UNICASTELO. MSc in Dentistry in the area of Orthodontics, UNICASTELO. PhD in Orthodontics, FOP / UNICAMP. Professor of the Masters in Dentistry Program, CPO São Leopoldo Mandic

^IVSpecialist in Orthodontics, CFO. Specialist in Radiology, FOP/UNICAMP. MSc and PhD in Orthodontics, FOP/UNICAMP. Professor and Head of the Masters in Dentistry Program in the Orthodontics area, CPO São Leopoldo Mandic

Contact address

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To associate maxillary atresia with facial types, investigating whether dimorphism occurs between males and females and evaluating the percentage of such dimorphism according to gender and facial type.

METHODS: Initially, the sample consisted of 258 lateral cephalometric radiographs. After analyzing Ricketts' VERT index, 108 radiographs were excluded for not meeting the selection criteria. Therefore, the sample consisted of 150 lateral cephalometric radiographs and 150 models of 150 Caucasian individuals aged 14 years to 18 years and 11 months, regardless of malocclusion type. The sample was divided into 50 mesofacials, 50 brachyfacials and 50 dolichofacials. The Schwarz's analysis was applied to all 150 models.

RESULTS: The presence of maxillary atresia in the sample consisted of 64% in dolichofacials, 58% in brachyfacials and 52% in mesofacials.

CONCLUSIONS: There was no evidence showing that atresia is in any way associated with facial type. Gender dimorphism was proportionally greater in dolichofacial males while females did not exhibit different proportions.

Keywords: Maxillary atresia. Schwarz's analysis. Facial types.

INTRODUCTION AND LITERATURE REVIEW

Dental arch shape is essential for the diagnosis of malocclusion given the fact that ideal stability and function require perfect dental intercuspation.

Maxillary atresia is a dentofacial deformity characterized by a discrepancy in the maxilla/mandible relationship in the transverse plane, which may exhibit unilateral or bilateral posterior crossbite. It consists of a narrowing of the upper arch with a deep gothic palate often associated with respiratory dysfunction.

It may be hidden due to the sagittal position of the maxilla and mandible with no apparent transverse deficiency.³

Witzig and Spahl¹⁰ affirm that Pont, in 1909, after assessing Basque individuals of southern France, established a fixed constant for the ideal shape of the dental arches in the premolar (80 mm) and molar (64 mm) regions using the formula: SI x 100 divided by 80 or 64, respectively.

Later, however, in disagreement with Pont, Schwarz and Gratzinger¹² developed a formula for each facial type.

For a better diagnosis of maxillary atresia Schwarz's analysis system is commonly used to determine the magnitude of the discrepancy, in millimeters, by measuring the actual arch width versus the ideal width of the upper and lower dentitions, thus indicating whether there is more need for anterior or posterior expansion.¹²

Arch morphology can assume different forms given their relationship with face width. Brachyfacials feature a larger transverse axis than do dolichofacials, whose faces are longer and narrower.⁴

The combined analysis of models and facial pattern can assist in choosing the mechanical procedure to be adopted by professionals, thereby optimizing the chances of a successful treatment.

By analyzing the maxilla transversely using Ricketts analysis and Schwarz's analysis, we realized it is possible to contribute with more evidence to orthodontic treatment diagnosis and planning, thereby increasing the likelihood of stability and successful results.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to employ Ricketts vertical growth (VERT) analysis and Schwarz's model analysis to evaluate:

• The percentage of maxillary atresia in the dolichofacial, mesofacial and brachyfacial facial types.

• Gender dimorphism, considering these facial types.

• Association of atresia with these facial types.

MATERIAL

Initially, our sample consisted of 258 lateral cephalometric radiographs. When performing cephalometry using Ricketts (VERT) analysis we selected 150 lateral cephalometric radiographs, i.e., 50 of brachyfacials, 50 of mesofacials and 50 of dolichofacials. Inclusion criteria required that all subjects should have complete permanent dentition with no agenesis, supernumerary teeth, extractions or extensive restorations.

The sample also comprised 150 stone casts of maxillary arches of 150 Caucasian individuals of both genders, aged 14 years to 18 years and 11 months, regardless of malocclusion type.

The models were analyzed using Schwarz's analysis to determine the extent of maxillary atresia.

METHODS

On the lateral cephalometric radiographs we highlighted the landmarks to perform Ricketts' (VERT) analysis and determine the facial pattern of each individual in the sample.

The following measurements were evaluated (Fig 1, Tables 1 and 2): lower facial height (angle formed by lines Xi-ENA and Xi-Pm), facial axis (posterior angle formed by the basion-nasion line and Pt-Gn), facial depth (angle formed by the intersection of the facial and Frankfurt planes), mandibular plane angle (formed by the intersection of the Frankfurt and mandibular planes), and the mandibular arch [obtained by extending the Xi-Pm and Xi-DC lines (condyle axis)]. With the resulting measurements we calculated the VERT index using the age standard, obtained according to the growth prediction method used by Ricketts to determine normal values for 9 year-old children.

The cephalometric analysis was performed in a Radiology Center with the aid of a computer program (CFX 2000, Cuiabá, Mato Grosso, Brazil).

In maxillary arch dental casts a pencil was used to mark landmarks on the occlusal surfaces of the following teeth: distal fossae of the first premolars and distal fossae of the first molars (Fig 2).

A bow divider was positioned over the landmarks on the first right and left premolars and subsequently, on the landmarks of the first right and left molars (Fig 5). The measurements (in mm) were recorded. With this procedure we obtained the transverse measurements between the first premolars and first molars in order to determine the presence of maxillary atresia.

Using a bow divider we measured the mesiodistal widths of the central and lateral maxillary incisors (in mm) (Fig 3 and 4).

The sum total of the mesiodistal diameters of the four incisors was represented by SI. The standard formulas of Schwarz used to compare models and cephalometric radiographs were: SI+6 = ideal premolar width and SI+12 = for molars (for leptoprosopics or dolichofacials), SI+7 = ideal premolar width and SI+14 = for molars (for mesoprosopics or mesofacials), SI+8 = ideal premolar width and SI+16 = for molars (for euriprosopics or brachyfacials).

The value of SI, added to the value for each facial type, resulted in the ideal width of the transverse distances between first maxillary premolars and first maxillary molars.

Ub and um acronyms were used: the optimal distance measured in a linear fashion directly on the arch between the distal fossae of the first premolars was represented by ub and the ideal arch distance between the central fossae of the first molar was defined as um.

The actual distances between the distal fossae of the first premolars and the distal fossae of the first molars were measured with a bow divider.

The actual values were subtracted from the ideal values. When ub and um were identical in terms of discrepancies, it indicated that they required identical lateral expansion of the maxillary arch, when discrepancy ub>um it indicated that it required further anterior lateral expansion, and when discrepancy ub<um it indicated that it required more posterior lateral expansion. All of these results were defined as maxillary atresia. On the other hand, when the two discrepancies equaled zero, or when the actual distance was greater than the ideal distance, such discrepancies were not defined as maxillary atresia.

To investigate the association of atresia and gender with facial type the Pearson's chi-square test was used. For the comparison between the mean deviations of the premolars and molars in relation to gender for each facial type the Student's t test was used when the data approached a normal distribution (Shapiro-Wilk test) and the Mann-Whitney U test was used for data without normal distribution. P < 0.05 values were considered significant.

As reference the computer software Statistica (version 6, from StatSoft Inc., 2001, www.statsoft.com) was employed.

The presence of maxillary atresia in the sample consisted of 64% in dolichofacials, 58% in brachyfacials and 52% in mesofacials.

No evidence was found (p = 0.4776) of any association between atresia and facial type (Table 3).

Regarding gender dimorphism, however, Table 4 shows that the presence of atresia in men is proportionally higher in dolichofacials (p = 0.0455), while women, as shown in Table 5, did not show different proportions (p = 0.5229).

DISCUSSION

In this study we found 32 dolichofacial individuals with maxillary atresia, 26 mesofacials with maxillary atresia and 29 brachyfacials with maxillary atresia (Fig 6) in a total of 50 individuals for each facial type. We found that 64% of dolichofacials, 52% of mesofacials and 58% of brachyfacials presented with maxillary atresia. However, there was no evidence indicating that maxillary atresia is in any way associated with facial type. These results confirm findings showing no statistically significant differences between the three facial types in a study⁷ that used transverse maxillary measurements. A later study⁸ eventually found no correlation between the asymmetry of the maxillary hemiarches and the three facial types, and no statistical difference between the asymmetries.

By comparing Pont's index with mesofacials and dolichofacials, no differences were found in the interpremolar and intermolar widths associated with the facial types. These findings, however, disagreed with the report⁵ in which the transverse measurements were correlated with the mandibular plane angle because it was found that any increase in this angle (in dolichofacials) contributed to a higher incidence of atretic arches. It was also observed that in dolichofacial individuals with nasal obstruction there was a greater prevalence of maxillary atresia.⁹

When distributing the sample by gender (Figs 7 and 8) we found that 51.28% presented with maxillary atresia with a significant proportion of dolichofacials (70.37%). This disagrees with the study¹ in which the Class I and Class II male dolichofacial groups had significantly increased interpremolar and intermolar widths when compared with females. The transverse, intercanine, interpremolar and inter-first-molar dimensions of the male patients exhibited higher values than females.²

A total of 65.28% of female patients had maxillary atresia, although different proportions were not found in terms of facial types, which disagrees with a study⁷ which found a statistically significant difference when comparing the maxilla of the mesofacial and dolichofacial groups (males and females). The male group showed larger dimensions than the female, while in brachyfacials no significant differences were found.

A thorough analysis of the three facial types disclosed that 62.28% of females and 51.28% of males presented with maxillary atresia. No different proportions were found between the genders.

Regarding the presence of maxillary atresia associated with gender,¹¹ the results confirmed the aforementioned study since we demonstrated that there is a difference in maxillary interpremolar and intermolar widths, which are smaller-indicating maxillary atresia-for both males and females, with no differences between them.⁶

Therefore the study sample did not show an association between maxillary atresia and facial type, but in dolichofacial males, where a statistically significant value was found, it became clear that measuring the transverse width of the maxilla-in both genders-is of paramount importance since it contributes to diagnosis and planning, thereby avoiding unnecessary expansion and ensuring improved orthodontic treatment results.

CONCLUSIONS

The results and discussion of this study indicate that:

1. In our sample, 64% of dolichofacials, 58% of brachyfacials and 52% of mesofacials presented with maxillary atresia.

2. There was no gender dimorphism in terms of facial types and presence of atresia, but in males the percentage of dolichofacials presenting with atresia was proportionally higher. Women, on the other hand, did not show different proportions between facial types.

3. No association was found between maxillary atresia and facial types.

REFERENCES

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• 9. Mocellin M, Fugmann EA, Gavazzoni FB, Ataíde AL, Ouriques FL, Herrero F. Estudo cefalométrico-radiográfico e otorrinolaringológico correlacionando o grau de obstrução nasal e o padrão de crescimento facial em pacientes não tratados ortodonticamente. Rev Bras Otorrinolaringol. 2000; 66(2):116-20.
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Evaluation of maxillary atresia associated with facial type

Marina Gomes Pedreira^I; Maria Helena Castro de Almeida^II; Katia de Jesus Novello Ferrer^III; Renato Castro de Almeida^IV

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  07 June 2010
• Date of issue
  June 2010

History

• Received
  Aug 2008
• Accepted
  Oct 2009