Comparison of mandibular arch forms of Korean and Vietnamese patients by using facial axis points on three-dimensional models / 대한치과교정학회지

OBJECTIVE: This study was aimed at comparing the mandibular arch forms of Korean and Vietnamese patients by using facial axis (FA) points on three-dimensional (3D) models. METHODS: Mandibular casts of 68 Korean (Class I malocclusion, 30; Class II malocclusion, 38) and 78 Vietnamese (Class I malocclusion, 41; Class II malocclusion, 37) patients were scanned in their occluded positions and grouped according to arch form (tapered, ovoid, and square). The FA point of each tooth was digitized on the 3D mandibular models. The measurements and frequency distributions of the arch forms were compared between the ethnic groups. RESULTS: The Vietnamese patients had significantly greater intercanine depth and intercanine and intermolar width-to-depth ratios than the Korean patients (p < 0.05). The frequency distributions of the arch forms were also significantly different (p = 0.038), but no sexual dimorphism was found. CONCLUSIONS: Vietnamese people tend to have deeper and wider arches than Korean people. The three arch forms are evenly distributed in Korean people, but Vietnamese people frequently have square arches. Clinicians should identify the correct arch form of an ethnic group before initiating orthodontic treatment.

New three-dimensional cephalometric analyses among adults with a skeletal Class I pattern and normal occlusion / 대한치과교정학회지

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess new three-dimensional (3D) cephalometric variables, and to evaluate the relationships among skeletal and dentoalveolar variables through 3D cephalometric analysis. METHODS: Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans were acquired from 38 young adults (18 men and 20 women; 22.6 +/- 3.2 years) with normal occlusion. Thirty-five landmarks were digitized on the 3D-rendered views. Several measurements were obtained for selected landmarks. Correlations among different variables were calculated by means of Pearson's correlation coefficient values. RESULTS: The body of the mandible had a longer curve length in men (102.3 +/- 4.4 mm) than in women (94.5 +/- 4.7 mm) (p < 0.001), but there was no significant difference in the maxillary basal curve length. Men had significantly larger facial dimensions, whereas women had a larger gonial angle (117.0 +/- 4.0 vs. 113.8 +/- 3.3; p < 0.001). Strong-to-moderate correlation values were found among the vertical and transverse variables (r = 0.71 to 0.51). CONCLUSIONS: The normative values of new 3D cephalometric parameters, including the maxillary and mandibular curve length, were obtained. Strong-to-moderate correlation values were found among several vertical and transverse variables through 3D cephalometric analysis. This method of cephalometric analyses can be useful in diagnosis and treatment planning for patients with dentofacial deformities.

Age, extraction rate and jaw surgery rate in Korean orthodontic clinics and small dental hospitals / 대한치과교정학회지

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the current data regarding age, sex, and Angle Classification of Korean orthodontic patients and influence of these factors on the tendency to undergo extraction and orthognathic surgery. METHODS: The recent trends of Korean orthodontic patients were assessed using questionnaire survey. The questionnaires were e-mailed to orthodontists who met the study criteria; 58% of the orthodontists opened the e-mails, and 27.7% replied to the e-mails. In all, the medical records of 11,340 patients who underwent orthodontic treatment at private clinics and small dental hospitals in Korea were analyzed. RESULTS: The percentage of female patients in the study sample was 69.6%, and the average age of the patients was 19.87 years. The percentage of patients who were older than 19 years was 50.2%. Class II and Class III malocclusions were noted in 33.6% and 23.6% of patients, respectively. Extraction and orthognathic surgery were performed in 60.4% and 6.9% of patients, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that there were a high percentage of adult, Class II malocclusion and extraction patients in private practices and small dental hospitals during the study period. Further, a relatively high proportion of adult patients opted to undergo orthognathic surgery.

Comparison of cephalometric norms between Mongolian and Korean adults with normal occlusions and well-balanced profiles / 대한치과교정학회지

OBJECTIVE: The purposes of this study were to establish cephalometric norms of Mongolian adults, which have not previously been reported in orthodontic journals, and to compare them with cephalometric norms of Korean adults. METHODS: Lateral cephalometric radiographs of 74 Mongolian adults (35 men, 39 women) and 95 Korean adults (52 men, 43 women) with normal occlusions and well-balanced lateral profiles were obtained. The subjects were chosen by orthodontists of the same ethnic background. Forty craniofacial variables were measured, and groups were compared by analysis of covariance. RESULTS: The cephalometric norms for male and female Mongolian and Korean adults with normal occlusions and well-balanced lateral profiles were established. Sexual dimorphism was found in linear skeletal measurements and vertical skeletal relationships. Compared with Korean adults, Mongolian adults had shorter anterior facial height, more prominent chins, and more upright upper incisors. There were few differences in soft tissue measurements. The differences were statistically significant, but their clinical importance may be limited. CONCLUSIONS: Cephalometric differences can be considered, but little difference may exist in the orthodontic diagnosis and treatment planning of Mongolian and Korean adults.