RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationships between the occlusal plane angle and craniofacial skeletal pattern in relation to anterior overbite. METHODS: Lateral cephalograms of 90 adults with skeletal class III malocclusions were traced and measured to analyze skeletal factors and occlusal plane angles. In terms of anterior overbite, all patients were classified into 3 subgroups of positive overbite, edgebite, and negative overbite groups. All measurements were evaluated statistically by ANOVA and Duncan's Post Hoc, and correlation coefficients were evaluated among measurements. RESULTS: In this study, some skeletal measurements (saddle angle, articular angle, Y axis, AFH, SN-FH, SN-Mn, FH-Mn) showed a significant difference among the 3 groups in relation to overbite changes. Correlation coefficient showed that PFH/AFH, SN-Mn, Mx-Mn, and FH-Mn showed a significant difference with FH-Occ, Mx-Occ, and Mn-Occ. Regression analysis showed that Mx-Mn had a determination coefficient of 0.714, 0.560, and 0.677 in relation to FH-Occ, Mx-Occ, and Mn-Occ, respectively. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that consideration of the occlusal plane in relation to the maxillomandibular vertical skeletal state enable the establishment of a more predictable orthognathic surgery result.