Does the state of dentition effect the type of stylohyoid chain calcification pattern?

INTRODUCTION: The human stylohyoid chain calcification patterns (SCP) present considerable anatomic variability. This study was performed to investigate the calcification on SCP in the dentate and total edentulous population and its relation to mandibular protrusive movement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study analyzed 1.234 SCP in digital panoramic radiographs of 617 subjects. The SCP were classified according to Mac Donald-Jankowski. The amount of mandibular protrusion movement limitation was evaluated for each subject. The data were analyzed using one-way Anova, Kruskall Wallis, Mann-Whitney U, and Chi-squared tests with significance set at p = 0.05. RESULTS: Among the 617 subjects evaluated there was symmetry of the SCP between the left and right sides in 87.3 % of the cases. In the study population 501 subjects were dentate (Class I, Class II, Class III molar relationship) and 116 subjects were total edentulous. There were significant differences among dentate and total edentulous patients for the distribution of SCP (p < 0.05). Elongated group was more prevalent in total edentulous subjects while in subjects with Class I occlusion normal SCP was observed. Although mandibular protrusive movement range was within normal limits for all the groups, calcified and elongated groups have numerically less protrusive movement compared to normal groups (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Among dentate and total edentulous subjects, similarity in SCP for right and left side was observed. The elongation of SCP was more common in the total edentulous group. Further studies conducted on larger populations are necessary to establish the effect of the state of dentition on the SCP.

Prevalence and pattern of stylohyoid chain complex patterns detected by panoramic radiographs among Turkish population.

OBJECTIVE: The calcified stylohyoid ligament and the elongated styloid process (SP) are identified radiographically, are associated with several syndromes and symptoms. The aim of this study was to classify and determine the incidence of different types of stylohyoid chain patterns in Turkish population to provide a guide for the dentist and maxillofacial surgeon. The effect of menopause, on the elongation of SP was also investigated. METHOD: 1,600 patients, who visited Ege University Faculty of Dentistry, were enrolled. Images were evaluated for the pattern of stylohyoid chain complex according to O'Carroll's classification. The difference between age and gender was evaluated using χ(2) and ANOVA tests. RESULTS: Normal SP (Patterns A, B, C, D) 68.3 %, elongated SP (Pattern E) 27.1 %, calcified stylohyoid ligament (Patterns F, G, H, I, J, K) 1.7 % and absent stylohyoid chain 2.5 % ratios were encountered. Pattern D (52.5 %) was the most prevalent stylohyoid chain pattern followed by Pattern E (27.1 %) and Pattern C (10.7 %), respectively. Among the calcified stylohyoid ligament groups studied, Pattern G (2.6 %) was most frequently observed. There was no difference in gender for the type of stylohyoid chain complex pattern (p > 0.05). No statistically significant difference was found between menopause and non-menopause group (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: According to the results of the present study, styloid process elongation is more common in older adults with no correlation to gender. In addition, menopause had no effect on the calcification or elongation of the stylohyoid chain. The sum of the elongated SP and the calcified stylohyoid ligament was 28.8 %.