Evaluation of facial morphology and sagittal relationship between dental arches in primary and mixed dentition.
OBJECTIVE
To assess facial morphology (Pattern) and sagittal relationship between dental arches (Class), and establish a potential association between them and the variables sex, age and ethnicity, among schoolchildren aged between 4 and 9 years old (mean age of 6.7 years) in primary and mixed dentitions.


METHODS
The sample comprised 875 children (457 males and 418 females) attending schools in Descalvado, São Paulo, Brazil. An attempt was made with a view to establish a potential association between children's morphological features with sex, age and ethnicity.


RESULTS
Descriptive analysis revealed a predominance of facial Pattern I (69.9 %) and Class I (67.4 %). Statistical tests (p < 0.001) showed that Class I was more frequent among Pattern I children, whereas Class II prevailed among Pattern II, and Class III was frequent among Pattern I and III children. Ethnicity was the only variable associated with facial pattern.


CONCLUSIONS
Results suggest that facial pattern and sagittal relationship between dental arches tend to be correlated. Ethnicity was associated with facial pattern, with Pattern I being the most recurrent among Caucasians and facial Pattern II being recurrent among Afro-descendant subjects.
Universidade de Araras, Araras, São Paulo, BR.
Aline
A
Traldi
Universidade de Araras, Araras, São Paulo, BR.
Heloísa Cristina
HC
Valdrighi
Universidade de Araras, Araras, São Paulo, BR.
Luciane Zanin
LZ
de Souza
Universidade de Araras, Araras, São Paulo, BR.
Silvia Amélia Scudeler
SA
Vedovello
D000367:Age Factors; D044383:Black People; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003724:Dental Arch / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D003818:Dentition, Mixed; D005006:Ethnicity; D005145:Face / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000145:classification; D008311:Malocclusion, Angle Class I / Q000473:pathology; D008312:Malocclusion, Angle Class II / Q000473:pathology; D008313:Malocclusion, Angle Class III / Q000473:pathology; D008334:Mandible / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008437:Maxilla / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D012737:Sex Factors; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous; D044465:White People