Cephalometric craniofacial characteristics of a sample of Saudi female adults with Class III malocclusion

The purpose of this study was to investigate the morphologic characteristic of the craniofacial complex of Saudi adult females with Class III malocclusion. Lateral cephalometric radiographs of 30 Saudi adult females with Class III malocclusion (ages 18 to 28 years) were selected from the pretreatment orthodontic fles of College of Dentistry of King Saud University. Cases were analyzed and compared with a Class I control group that was matched for age and sex. The Saudi females with Class III malocclusion exhibited a distinct craniofacial morphologic characteristic that was manifested in a combination of alterations in angular and linear measurements on the lateral cephalogram. The anterior (S-N), posterior (S-Ar) and total cranial base (S-Ar) linear measurements were signifcantly shorter, and the cranial base angle (N-S-Ar and N-S-Ba) was signifcantly smaller in Class III than in control. Maxillary length (ANS-PNS) was signifcantly smaller, and the maxilla was more posteriorly positioned in the patients with Class III malocclusion. The mandible and chin position were prognathic, and there was increase in total mandibular length (Ar-Pog) accompanied by obtuse gonial (Ar-Go-Me) angle and steeper mandibular plane. Both the ramal height (Ar-Go) and the posterior facial height were signifcantly shorter in Class III malocclusion than in control. Dental compensation in the patients with Class III was manifested by protrusion of the maxillary incisors and retrusion of mandibular incisors. There was tendency to open bite in these Class III malocclusions. The soft tissue refects the underlying skeletal pattern by retrusion of upper and lower lips to esthetic line, and smaller nasiolabial angle.