Relationship between head posture and parameters of sagittal position and length of jaws

Abstract

Introduction. Head posture in relation to the cervical spine is correlated with the morphology of the face and jaw, the position and the mutual relationship of the maxilla and mandible, their length and inclination. The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between the head posture and parameters of the sagittal position and length of the jaws. Material and Methods. The study included 90 subjects (30 for I, II and II skeletal class each) between the ages of 8 and 14 years, who were examined at the Department of Dentistry of Vojvodina in Novi Sad. Each subject had the lateral cephalogram made, and the analysis was performed by means of the computer program ?Onyx Ceph.? The following parameters were analyzed: craniocervical angle, angle of maxillary prognathism, angle of mandibulary prognathism, the difference angles of maxillary and mandibulary prognathism, length of maxillae, and length of mandible. Results. The angle of maxillary prognathism was in positive correlation with the craniocervical angle in the patients with class I and II, and they were negatively correlated in the patients with class III. The angle of mandibulary prognathism was in positive correlation with the craniocervical angle in the patients with class I and III, but they were negatively correlated in the patients with class II. The patients with class II had a statistically significant positive correlation between the craniocervical angle and length of the maxilla, and a significant, but negative correlation between the craniocervical angle and length of the mandible. Conclusion. Increased extension of the head in relation to the cervical spine can be a contributing factor to the formation of class II malocclusion.