title: Differential diagnosis of skeletal open bite based on sagittal components of the face.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study examined the morphology of skeletal open bite with respect to the sagittal components of the face.
  
  
  METHODS
  The material consisted of cephalometric and hand-wrist films of 49 girls and 22 boys with skeletal open bite. The samples were grouped into Class I, II, and III facial types on the basis of ANB angle. In addition to conventional dentofacial variables, nasopharyngeal airway area was also measured on lateral headfilms. All measurements were examined by analysis of variance and Duncan test. Subsequently the factors leading to open bite were evaluated using multiple-regression analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Dentofacial morphology differed in the sagittal components of skeletal open bite, and the differences were most obvious between the Class II and Class III open bite groups. Posterior maxillary dentoalveolar height and mandibular incisor inclination were important factors in the development of open bite in the skeletal Class I and Class II open bite groups, while in the skeletal Class III open bite group, the nasopharyngeal airway and the gonial angle were involved.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sagittal components of skeletal open bite should be considered in the differential diagnosis and treatment planning of such cases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, University of Ankara, Ankara, Turkey. arat@dentistry.ankara.edu.tr
authors.forename: Z Mirzen
authors.initials: ZM
authors.lastname: Arat
authors.forename: Haluk
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Işeri
authors.forename: Ayça
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000365:Age Determination by Skeleton; D000539:Alveolar Process / Q000473:pathology; D002508:Cephalometry / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002648:Child; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007180:Incisor / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008311:Malocclusion, Angle Class I / Q000175:diagnosis; D008312:Malocclusion, Angle Class II / Q000175:diagnosis; D008313:Malocclusion, Angle Class III / Q000175:diagnosis; D008334:Mandible / Q000473:pathology; D008437:Maxilla / Q000473:pathology; D009305:Nasopharynx / Q000473:pathology; D024343:Open Bite / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010347:Patient Care Planning