THREE-DIMENSIONAL ASSESSMENT OF THE SAGITTAL CONDYLAR INCLINATION IN SKELETAL CLASS II PATIENTS BASED ON COMPUTER AIDED DIAGNOSIS AXIOGRAPH AND CONE-BEAM COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY

Abstract

Great variation has been found in sagittal condylar inclination (SCI) values among individuals with different skeletal structures. Therefore, average value articulators cannot fully represent the physiological characteristics of the mandible, or reproduce its sagittal movements. The purpose of this study was to measure the SCI value of skeletal Class II patients by two different three-dimensional assessments, and to evaluate the correlation and consistency between the two methods. A total of 23 patients (aged 15–65 years) diagnosed with skeletal Class II malocclusion were recruited from the Stomatological Center of Shunde Hospital, Southern Medical University. Subjects were divided into three groups based on different A point–nasion–B point angle (ANB), and angle between the upper central incisor and Frankfort horizontal plane (U1-FH). Bilateral SCI values were measured using computer-aided diagnosis axiography (CADIAX) and cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Statistical analysis showed that the SCI value measured by CADIAX was significantly higher than that measured by CBCT. Significant differences were found among different ANB and U1-FH groups, and the average value of the [Formula: see text] group was the highest. Our findings indicate that the measurement of SCI by CADIAX cannot be replaced by CBCT, and it is recommended that personalized measurements of SCI values in skeletal class II patients be carried out. Individual SCI measurement can help coordinate the physiological characteristics of patients in dental treatment, benefit the health of temporomandibular joint and improve the long-term outcome. Our results suggest that the SCI values obtained by CBCT is different from the real SCI values of patients, and we will look for a simpler and more accurate clinical method to measure SCI value in future research.