OBJECTIVE: To our knowledge, no study has compared the facial and dental morphology of adult Latin and Japanese populations. The purpose of this study was to assess differences in the facial and dental morphology between adult Spanish and Japanese women with Class I malocclusion using lateral cephalograms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The lateral cephalograms of 33 adult Spanish and 33 adult Japanese women were traced and digitized by a single investigator. All patients satisfied the following criteria: female sex; age 18–35 years; skeletal Class I malocclusion (ANB angle, 2°–5°; angle Class I malocclusion; arch length discrepancy, −10 to + 10 mm; overjet, 1–5 mm; overbite, 1–5 mm); absence of congenital anomalies, significant facial asymmetry, or congenitally missing teeth, with the exception of the third molars; significant temporomandibular joint problems; severe crowding; and no history of orthodontic treatment. RESULTS: Eleven and six angular measurements for the skeletal and dental hard tissues, respectively, were computed in accordance with previous studies. The results showed that Japanese women had significant maxillary and mandibular protrusion, clockwise mandibular rotation, greater labial tipping of incisors, and a smaller interincisal angle compared with Spanish women. CONCLUSION: At the time of orthodontic treatment planning, it is important to consider the facial and dental morphological characteristics of individual ethnic groups to achieve satisfactory outcomes and retention. The findings of this study provide valuable information that will aid in orthodontic treatment planning for adult Spanish and Japanese women.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the mean soft tissue facial profile for Circassian adults as determined by Legan–Burstone cephalometric analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 71 lateral cephalometric radiographs for nongrowing Circassian adults with normal occlusion were traced and accurately measured. RESULTS: With regard to facial form analysis, Circassian adults showed higher facial convexity angle, retruded mandible, and obtuse lower face–throat angle. When compared with lip form norms, Circassians showed increased nasolabial angle, deeper mentolabial sulcus, and increased maxillary incisor exposure. Comparison between men and women showed that mentolabial sulcus depth was significantly increased in Circassian men compared with Circassian women. CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed that soft tissue facial profiles for Circassians and Caucasians are different in certain values. Such differences should be taken into account when formulating a treatment plan for Circassian patients seeking orthodontic treatment and orthognathic surgery.

CONTEXT: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy and reliability of tooth length measurements using conventional and cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) imaging techniques. AIM: The aim of this study was to assess the accuracy and reliability of various tooth length measurements made on CBCT scans and conventional imaging techniques [intraoral periapical radiograph (IOPA) and orthopantomogram (OPG)]. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: This is an in-vitro comparative study. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: In total, 50 extracted single-rooted premolar teeth were mounted on the dry human mandible. For each extracted tooth, measurements for tooth length, crown length, and root lengths were taken with a Vernier caliper and using three imaging modalities: CBCT, OPG, and IOPA radiographs. The measurements were compared with the gold standard (Vernier caliper). STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: One-way analysis of variance was used to compare mean values between the groups that are Vernier caliper, CBCT, IOPA, and OPG. The multiple comparisons of means of tooth length, root length, and crown length were done by Bonferroni test. RESULTS: A significant difference in the tooth length measurements was seen between the measurements taken by CBCT and IOPA and between IOPA and OPG. But, no significant difference was seen between any other groups. The highly significant difference was seen between the root length measurements taken by IOPA and OPG and by CBCT and OPG. However, no significant difference was seen between any other groups. No significant difference was seen in between the crown length measurements taken by Vernier caliper and CBCT and between IOPA and OPG. However, a significant difference was seen between all the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Among the radiographic techniques, CBCT was found to be the most accurate in measuring the tooth, root, and crown lengths.

OBJECTIVE: This study was carried to study the prevalence of dental anomalies and treatment modalities/planning among the orthodontic patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 370 orthodontic records including their pre-treatment orthopantomographs (OPG) and study models of orthodontic patients in permanent dentition who attended dental clinic were assessed for impaction, hypodontia, supernumerary, supraocclusion, infraocclusion, and any other anomalies excluding the third molars. The association of anomalies with gender status and racial status was analyzed using Pearson's Chi-square test. A P value of <0.05 is considered as significant. The confidence interval at 95% (CI) was set. RESULTS: Among the 370 subjects, 105 (28.4%) presented with at least one anomaly. Eighty-five (23%) demonstrated a single anomaly and 20 (5.4%) with more than one anomaly. The most prevalent anomaly was impaction (14.32%), followed by hypodontia (7.03%). The less common anomalies were microdontia (1.08%), dilacerations (0.27%), and generalised enamel hypoplasia (0.27%). Maxillary right lateral incisors and canines were the most common affected teeth and these are located on the maxillary right quadrant. It was evident that dental anomalies were statistically dependant on race (P = 0.025), but independent of gender. The most common treatment planned for these patients was fixed appliance. CONCLUSIONS: Impaction was predominant among 28.4% subjects observed with anomaly and most patients with anomaly are treated with fixed appliances (49%). CLINICAL RELEVANCE: These anomalies play a great role in occlusion and alignment in treatment planning and relapse for orthodontic treatment.

BACKGROUND: The association between maxillary development and vector relationships is used in the field of plastic surgery, but the validity of this principle has not been tested yet. AIM: The aim of this study is to determine whether visual classification of anterior malar projection using vector relationships is supported by cephalometric analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Normal, healthy 40 subjects aged 10–15 years with no history of orthodontic treatment, craniofacial syndromes, or trauma formed the study group. These subjects based on the visual assessment of vector relationship (positive and negative) were divided into 2 groups (Group A and Group B), consisting of 20 subjects each. Vectors were drawn on the profile photographs. Sella–Nasion–Orbitale (SNO) angle were traced using the Nemoceph software. The relationship of anterior malar projection obtained from profile photograph and lateral cephalogram were compared. The data obtained were subjected to statistical analysis. RESULTS: Skeletal differences between the positive and negative vector groups based on SNO angles were statistically significant (P < 0.001). SNO angulations in the negative vector group were smaller than the positive vector group by an average of 5.9°. CONCLUSIONS: Visual assessment of vector relationship can be effectively used to classify anterior malar projection. This also helps in diagnosing maxillary hypoplasia and executes different treatment modalities.