Craniofacial morphology in women with Class I occlusion and severe maxillary anterior crowding.

INTRODUCTION: Our objective was to investigate craniofacial morphology in women with Class I occlusion and maxillary anterior crowding (MxAC) with bilateral palatal displacement of the lateral incisors and facial displacement of the canines.

METHODS: Thirty-three women with normal occlusion (mean age, 20.7 ± 2.3 years) were selected as the control group, and 33 women with severe MxAC (mean age, 23.3 ± 3.8 years) with bilateral palatal and facial displacement of the lateral incisors and canines, respectively, were selected as the MxAC group. Mesiodistal tooth crown diameter, arch length discrepancy, facial-palatal displacement of lateral incisors and canines, and dental arch dimensions were measured. Fourteen skeletal and 10 dental cephalometric measurements were made. Medians, interquartile ranges, means, and standard deviations were calculated for each parameter, and the nonparametric Mann-Whitney U test (P <0.05) was used to compare the 2 groups.

RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the MxAC group showed a significantly wider angle (P <0.05) and shorter length (P <0.01) in the cranial base, a smaller sagittal maxillary base (P <0.01), and a hyperdivergent skeletal pattern (P <0.01 and P <0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Women with Class I occlusion and severe MxAC exhibited a significantly wider angle and shorter length in the cranial base, a smaller sagittal maxillary base, and a hyperdivergent skeletal pattern. These skeletal and dental characteristics and cranial base dysmorphology may be helpful as potential indicators for orthodontic treatment with extractions.