ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To examine the differences in lateral cephalometric characteristics between patients with dental protrusion and crowding in order to determine what factors affect dental protrusion or crowding while both malocclusion types are caused by large tooth size. METHODS: Twenty nine individuals with dental protrusion and 22 individuals with dental crowding were enrolled in this study. All subjects had larger teeth than average and Class I molar relationships. Craniofacial characteristics and hyoid bone positions were determined from lateral cephalograms and compared between the two groups. RESULTS: In the comparisons of craniofacial characteristics, the measurements indicating maxillary length and facial convexity showed greater values in the protrusion group than in the crowding group. Comparisons of hyoid bone positions showed that the hyoid bone was positioned more anteriorly and superiorly in the protrusion group than in the crowding group. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study indicate that some craniofacial characteristics and tongue position may affect the development of dental protrusion or crowding; when an individual has large teeth, dental protrusion or crowding might be determined according to maxillary growth and tongue position.