title: A cephalometric study to investigate the skeletal relationships in patients with increasing severity of hypodontia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the skeletal relationships in patients with hypodontia and analyze the effects of severity and pattern.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pretreatment lateral cephalograms from 277 patients with hypodontia, categorized by the number of missing teeth as mild (1-2), moderate (3-5), or severe (> or =6), were digitized recording angular measurements and ratios and compared with published norms matched for age and gender. Pattern was determined as mandibular, maxillary, bimaxillary, bilateral, anterior, posterior, and anteroposterior. Linear regression models assessed relationships between number of missing teeth and cephalometric parameters, controlling for the pattern of hypodontia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For every additional missing tooth, SNA, SNB, and ANB decreased 0.3 degrees , 0.1 degrees , and 0.2 degrees , respectively; this was clinically significant for >4, >10, and >5 missing teeth, respectively. Mandibular to cranial base ratio decreased 0.3% for every additional missing tooth; this was clinically significant for >10 missing teeth. The MMPA decreased 0.3 degrees for every additional missing tooth; this was clinically significant for >7 missing teeth. Percentage LAFH decreased 0.2% for every additional missing tooth; this was significant for >7 missing teeth. Jarabak ratio increased 0.2% for each additional missing tooth; this was clinically significant for >10 missing teeth. Anterior hypodontia significantly decreased most cephalometric parameters.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with hypodontia demonstrated a tendency toward a Class III relationship, caused by decreased maxillary and mandibular angular prognathism and MnCB ratio, though the effect was greater on the maxilla than the mandible. Clinical significance was only associated with severe hypodontia. Vertically, there was a tendency toward decreased MMPA and %LAFH; this was clinically relevant only with severe hypodontia. Anterior hypodontia had a significant effect on skeletal relationship.
authors.affiliation: Eastman Dental Hospital, UCLH, London, UK.
authors.forename: Priti N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Acharya
authors.forename: Steven P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Moles
authors.forename: Daljit
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gill
authors.forename: Nigel P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Hunt
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000848:Anodontia / Q000150:complications*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002508:Cephalometry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002648:Child; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D019229:Dentition, Permanent; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008313:Malocclusion, Angle Class III / Q000209:etiology*; D008445:Maxillofacial Development; D055815:Young Adult