Cranial Base Measurements in Skeletal Malocclusion among Orthodontic Patients.

BACKGROUND: Facial growth and development is necessary for proper orthodontic diagnosis and treatment planning. Growth of cranial base is linked to the overall growth of facial bones, especially the maxilla and mandible. Any change in the amount and direction of growth of the cranial base can have direct or indirect effects on the developing maxilla and mandible. Thus the aim of this study was to determine the linear and angular cranial base measurements in different skeletal malocclusion in Nepalese population. METHODS: Pretreatment lateral cephalograms of 225 patients aged between 17-30 years were collected. Linear measurements Sella-Nasion (S-N), Sella-Articulare (S-Ar), Articulare-Gonion (Ar-Go), Gonion-Gnathion (Go-Gn) and angular measurements Saddle angle (N-S-Ar), Articular angle (S-Ar-Go) and Gonial angle (Ar-Go-Gn) were measured. RESULTS: In angular measurements statistically significant differences were found in the saddle and gonial angles between class I, II, and III skeletal pattern. In linear measurements, anterior and posterior cranial base lengths were not significantly different among groups however, ramal height and mandibular body length were significantly different among groups with a P value < 0.05. CONCLUSIONS: Skeletal class III has a larger gonial angle, ramal height and mandibular length. Males have larger linear measurements and females have larger angular measurements.

Average Type Smile in Posed Smile of Individuals Visiting Department of Orthodontics of a Tertiary Care Hospital: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study.

Introduction: New concepts and methods have been developed in orthodontics with patients' increased concern on esthetics. Among the various parameters of smile, smile type, smile arc, and smile symmetry are essential for a beautiful smile. The objective of this study was to find out the prevalence of average type in posed smiles of individuals visiting the department of orthodontics. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from 1st April 2021 to 30th June 2021 at a tertiary care hospital. Ethical clearance was obtained from the Institutional Review Committee (Reference number: 1, CH No. 30, 2077/2078). A convenience sampling technique was used to collect a total of 413 samples of posed smile photographs. Data was collected and analysed using Microsoft Excel 2013. Point estimate at 95% Confidence Interval was calculated along with frequency and percentage. Results: Among 413 individuals, the average type of smile was found in 193 (46.73%) (42.12-51.74 at 95% Confidence Interval). Out of 87 average smile type males, most of them 51 (58.62%) had non consonant smile arcs and 47 (54.02%) had asymmetric type smiles. On the contrary, the majority of females 76 (71.70%) had a consonant arc smile while 63 (59.43%) had an asymmetric smile. Conclusions: The prevalence of the average type of smile was higher in our study as in other published literatures. Keywords: dental esthetics; dental photography; orthodontics; smiling.

Study of Upper Pharyngeal Airway Dimension in Young Adults Visiting Orthodontic Department of a Dental College: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study.

INTRODUCTION: Orthodontic treatment may affect the size and position of oropharyngeal structures altering the airway dimension. Airway dimension is considered as one of the parameter of orthodontic diagnosis and treatment planning. Narrow airway passage is associated with sleep disordered breathing. This aims to study about the measurement of upper pharyngeal airway dimension of young Nepalese adults visiting orthodontic department of a dental college. METHODS: This descriptive cross-sectional study conducted at Department of Orthodontics, Peoples Dental College and Hospital, Kathmandu. Data was collected from 8th December 2020 to 28th February 2021. Ethical clearance (Reference number. 1, CH100 06, 2077/2076) was taken from Institutional Review Committee of Peoples Dental College and Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal. Convenient Sampling technique was done. Data was collected and analysis was done using Statistical Packageof Social Sciences 16. RESULTS: Mean upper pharyngeal airway dimension was 11.40±1.84mm and 11.68±1.96mm for male and female respectively. Upper pharyngeal airway dimension was found to be almost similar for male and female. CONCLUSIONS: Gender diversity regarding upper pharyngeal airway dimesnion was not observed in this study while other studies also revealed similarities in upper pharyngeal airway dimension between male and female, inspite of larger craniofacial dimension in males than females.

Gonial Angle by Lateral Cephalogram in Orthodontic Patients of a Tertiary Care Hospital: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study.

INTRODUCTION: The Gonial angle is an important parameter of the craniofacial complex for growth Patterns prediction. The gonial angle on lateral cephalometric radiograph represents the mandibular morphology concerning mandibular body and ramus. The objective of this study was to find out the mean value of gonial angle in lateral cephalometric radiographs of patients of orthodontic department in a tertiary care center. METHODS: The descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among patients from the Department of Orthodontics at People's Dental College and Hospital between 8th December 2020 to 8th February 2021 at People's Dental College and Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal after obtaining Ethical approval (Reference Number. 01, CH100 09,2077/2078) by the Institutional Review Committee. A convenience sampling technique was used to collect 166 pre-treatment lateral cephalograms radiographs of patients between 17-30 years. Data were collected and entered using Statistical Package of Social Science 16. RESULTS: The mean value of gonial angle on lateral cephalogram radiographs was 132.84±3.70 in hyperdivergent, 119.94±5.57 in hypodivergent and 124.06±3.88 in normodivergent vertical skeletal patterns and between male and female were 132.52±4.32, 133.07±3.28 in hyperdivergent, 121.46±3.78, 119.14±6.42 in hypodivergent and 123.74±5.14, 123.94±3.90 in normodivergent vertical skeletal patterns of Orthodontic Patients. CONCLUSIONS: The gonial angle value on lateral cephalometric radiographs was greater in hyperdivergent than hypodivergent and normodivergent vertical skeletal patterns. The hyperdivergent vertical skeletal pattern of female was greater than of male patient's lateral cephalometric radiographs while hypodivergent and normodivergent vertical skeletal patterns of males were greater than female lateral cephalogram radiographs of Nepalese orthodontic patients.

Impacted Canine in Orthodontic Patients of a Tertiary Care Hospital: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study.

INTRODUCTION: Impacted canine is a frequently encountered clinical problem during orthodontic practice with different prevalence in each region. Treatment usually requires an interdisciplinary approach which is difficult and time consuming. Surgical exposure of the impacted tooth and the complex orthodontic mechanisms are used to align the tooth into the arch. This study was designed to find out the prevalence of impacted canine in orthodontic patients. METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study was done with hospital records of patients from 15 to 38 years of age visited department of Orthodontics at a tertiary care hospital from August 2020 to March 2021 after obtaining ethical clearance from the institutional review committee. Convenience sampling method was used. Patients Orthopantomogram and clinical notes were thoroughly evaluated. To locate position of impacted canine cone-beam computed tomography images were used. The data was collected and entered in Microsoft Excel. Point estimate at 99% Confidence Interval was calculated along with frequency and proportion for binary data. RESULTS: Out of 1008 patients, 44 (4.37%) (2.71-6.03 at 99% Confidence Interval) patients had impacted canines. Among them, maxillary canine impaction was seen in 38 (3.77%) and mandibular canine impaction in 6 (0.60%). CONCLUSIONS: The overall prevalence of impacted canines was found lower than previous studies done in similar settings. Large number of patients had buccal impaction compared to palatal impaction.