RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: The sphenoid bone is an irregular, unpaired, symmetrical bone located in the middle of the anterior skull and is involved in craniofacial growth and development. Since the morphology of Sella turcica (ST) is associated with different craniofacial patterns, this study aimed to investigate if there is a correlation between ST morphology on the one hand and sagittal craniofacial patterns on the other hand. METHODS: This study was conducted with a convenience sample that included Brazilian individuals undergoing orthodontic treatment. Lateral cephalograms were used to evaluate the calcification pattern and morphology of ST, as well as skeletal class by analyzing the ANB angle. Pearson's chi-square test with Bonferroni post-hoc test was performed to evaluate the association between ST calcification pattern and morphology, and anteroposterior skeletal malocclusion. The established significance level was 0.05. RESULTS: The study collective was comprised of 305 orthodontic patients (178 (58.4 %) female, 127 (41.6 %) male), who had a mean age of 23.2 (±10.6) years. 131 participants (42.9 %) presented skeletal class I, 142 (46.6%) skeletal Class II, and 32 (10.5%) had a skeletal class III. The degree of prognathism of the mandible showed a homogenous distribution within the study collective (91 (29.9 %) orthognathic, 100 (32.9 %) retrognathic, 113 (37.2 %) prognathic mandible). Concerning the maxilla, 92 (30.2%) individuals presented an orthognathic upper jaw, whereas 60 (19.7%) showed maxillary retrognathism and 153 (50.2%) maxillary prognathism. Compared to patients with skeletal class I, skeletal class III individuals presented significantly more hypertrophic posterior clinoid process (p<0.007) and pyramidal shape of the dorsum of the ST (p<0.038). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that the hypertrophic posterior clinoid process and pyramidal shape of the ST dorsum are more prevalent in individuals with skeletal class III malocclusion.
