INTRODUCTION: The evaluation of facial vertical proportions is one of the most important features considered by the orthodontist when choosing the appropriate therapy. Meanwhile, when vertical measurements are analyzed separately, one could have an unreliable idea of what the patient’s face presents considering vertical development. AIM: The purpose of this research was to perform a correlative analysis between the vertical cephalometric measurements: mandibular plane angle (GoGn-SN), facial height index (FHI) and overbite; to evaluate if the simultaneous correlation of these measurements is in agreement with the results cited in the literature; and to identify the possible factors which could, eventually, lead to different results from those expected. METHODS: This study was performed through cephalometric x-rays obtained from randomly chosen individuals with excellent occlusion and malocclusion, selected from the Orthodontics Program of the Federal University of Bahia. RESULTS: The skeletal measurements GoGn-SN and FHI showed strong correlation. The overbite level did not showed correlation with these measurements in the excellent occlusion group, and showed weak correlation in the malocclusion group. Only 35% of the individuals with excellent occlusion showed an expected correlation between the three measurements, while this percentage was of 31% in the malocclusion group. The remaining individuals showed variations in the incisor dentoalveolar heights as a major factor in compensating the vertical dysplasia, and in the excellent occlusion group it was also found compensations in the molars area. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicates that the most part of the groups presented a correlation between the three vertical measurements different from the pattern related in the literature.
Mandibular plane angle; Facial height index; Overbite; Facial vertical dimensions