Determination of lower facial height through mandibular morphology using lateral cephalometery

ABSTRACT

The objective of the present study was to correlate the mandible morphology and lower facial height in occlusion through lateral cephalographs. Moreover the cephalometric measurements can be used as records for future complete dentures fabrication. It is a descriptive study and was carried out at the Prosthodontic Department of Lahore Medical and Dental College, Lahore from July 2011 to January 2012. A total of 120 completely edentulous patients of both genders were selected and the age ranged 35 years and above. Demographic data and informed consent of all the patients were taken. The patients with the facial asymmetry, acquired and congenital orofacial deformity were excluded from the study. All those patients not willing to undergo radiography were also not included. The cephalographs of each patient was carried out after the insertion of the complete dentures. The Rickets cephalometric analysis was used to analyze the mandibular shape by [gonial angle] and the mandibular arch. The lower facial height in occlusion was measured by three angles [superior, median, inferior]. The results of the present study showed that there is a positive and a strong correlation between mandibular gonial angle with all the three angles determining the lower facial height. Furthermore the median and inferior angles were found to be having significant correlation with the mandibular arch angle. The regressions for gonial angle [Gonial = 103.527+0.466 [inferior] and for mandibular arch angle [arch =30.519-0.271[superior] +0.227 [inferior] were statistically significant. It was concluded that the mandibular morphology can be used to evaluate the lower facial height in occlusion in the Pakistani population and is complementary to the routinely used methods for the complete denture fabrication