Surgical correction of skeletal Class III malocclusions using cranial base length (corrected and uncorrected) as a reference.
This study was an attempt to show how a variation in the anteroposterior position of nasion, or length of the anterior cranial base, when used as a reference line, affects the esthetic outcome of surgically repositioned bony bases. Five white female subjects exhibiting a short anterior cranial base and characterized by maxillary retrusion were included in this study. Lateral cephalograms and 35-mm photographs of each subject were digitized into a computer imaging system, and computer-simulated surgical procedures were performed. Soft tissue profiles were then generated to reflect the skeletal changes that took place. When three groups of respondents were asked to choose the most pleasing profile, the majority (65%) chose the maxillary (Le Fort I) surgical procedure, in which the cranial base was extended to a range of corrected "normals." These results indicate that when cephalometrics are used to formulate a diagnosis and treatment plan, the most esthetic result may be obtained if the landmarks that are important to the analysis, in this case, the anterior cranial base length, are normalized.
Hamway
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TA
Department of Orthodontics, University of Detroit-Mercy, Michigan, USA.
Pangrazio-Kulbersh
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V
D002508:Cephalometry / Q000379:methods*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004955:Esthetics, Dental; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008313:Malocclusion, Angle Class III / Q000601:surgery*; D008334:Mandible / Q000601:surgery; D008437:Maxilla / Q000601:surgery; D010027:Osteotomy / Q000379:methods; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D012016:Reference Values; D019291:Skull Base / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome