Page 30 - MDJ Volume 47 Number 2 ( Jul-Dec 2024)

Fatima, et al.: Relationship of Cranial base growth with sagittal skeletal discrepancies

Table 7: Mean comparison of posterior, anterior and total cranial base length according to skeletal sagittal discrepancies
Description Skeletal sagittal discrepancies P value
Mean ± standard deviation
Class I Class II Class III
Posterior cranial base length—SBa (mm) 44.89 ± 5.36 47.36 ± 5.43 43.60 ± 2.07 0.057 **
Anterior cranial base length—NS (mm) 66.31 ± 4.42 65.40 ± 4.30 64.00 ± 4.74 0.422 **
Total cranial base length—NBa (mm) 101.50 ± 7.36 104.00 ± 8.37 100.20 ± 3.42 0.254 **
Analysis of variance was applied.
P < 0.05 is considered as statistically significant.
** Not significant at 0.05 level

Table 8: Mean comparison of Nasion–Sella–Articulare and Nasion–Sella–Basion cranial base angle according to skeletal
sagittal discrepancies
Description Skeletal sagittal discrepancies P value
Mean ± standard deviation
Class I Class II Class III
<Nasion–sella–articulare (NSAr) cranial base angle (°) 128.23 ± 5.38 126.72 ± 6.44 125.20 ± 5.06 0.369 **
<Nasion–sella–basion (NSBa) cranial base angle (°) 133.65 ± 6.41 133.28 ± 6.22 133.60 ± 8.44 0.962 **
Analysis of variance was applied.
P < 0.05 is considered as statistically significant.
** Not significant at 0.05 level

maxillary and mandibular positions in skeletal class II as length in class II and class III groups no statistically
well as in class III. Similarly, to the previous results, the study significant relations were found. It should be noted that
done by Mehta et al. found a positive correlation between the temporomandibular joint is positioned at the lateral
[32]
the saddle angle and the mandibular positions, but only in edges of the cranial base and is, in fact, considerably
retrusion and protrusion and not the maxillary positions. separated spatially from the midsagittal plane on which
cephalometric analyses are based. Enlow reported that
Regarding skeletal class III relation, the results of a study maxillary growth is influenced by the growth of the cranial
revealed a significant correlation with the saddle angle, base while the mandible acts in a more independent way
especially with the mandibular positions. Studies performed owing to its remoteness from the region although its
[26]
by Proff et al., Chang et al., Sanggarnjanavanich et articulation in the glenoid fossa does provide potential for
[25]
al., Sichani et al. and Flores-Ysla et al. were on the influence from the cranial base. [33]
[28]
[27]
[29]
same line. Additionally, studies conducted by Cutovic
[30]
[31]
[32]
et al., Mestriner and Valente and Mehta et al. as Various investigators advocated that a longer posterior
mentioned previously, found positive correlation between cranial base can aggravate a sagittal class II relationship
the saddle angle and class III malocclusion. while a shorter base may increase the chance of a class III
relationship. [34,35] In a study the linear variable SBa showed
On the other hand, results of the studies done by
Dhopatkar et al., Shah et al., Andria et al., Afrand significant correlation with SNA and SNB in skeletal
[4]
[7]
[21]
[9]
et al., Tinano et al. and Wilhelm et al. found no Class III group only.
[23]
[24]
[22]
correlation between the saddle angle with the maxillary
and mandibular positions in not only class III, but in any conclusIon
skeletal sagittal abnormal relation.
The study results showed no significant difference between
The sagittal skeletal discrepancy may be caused by an the mean values for the cranial base angle (NSBa) in
abnormal position of the jaw or insufficient/over-jaw different malocclusion group I, group II and group III.
growth, leading to an abnormal maxillary-mandibular There was also no significant mean difference observed in
relation. Geometrically, the posterior cranial base anterior, posterior and total cranial base lengths between
length particularly plays a significant role in sagittal class I, class II and class III groups.
presentations. [32]
In another study, when correlating SBa with maxillary Acknowledgement
[9]
length, SN and NBa to maxillary and mandibular The authors would like to acknowledge the staff in the
length, all groups showed high statistical significance orthodontic department for their kind assistance in
positive correlations. Whereas, for SBa to mandibular providing materials and facilities for this study.
56 Malaysian Dental Journal ¦ Volume 47 ¦ Issue 2 ¦ July-December 2024
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