A cephalometric evaluation of the effect of glenoid fossa location on craniofacial morphology

Abstract

Aim: The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of glenoid fossa location in various skeletal malocclusions on craniofacial morphology. Methods: Cephalometric data of 84 subjects were analyzed for four linear and two angular variables for assessing glenoid fossa location in cranial base and eight linear and eight angular variables for evaluating the corresponding effect on craniofacial morphology using statistical software STATA 12 for windows. Regression analysis was done to see the effect of glenoid fossa location on the parameters measuring craniofacial morphology. Results: Significant association between glenoid fossa location and craniofacial morphology was demonstrated in skeletal class I, class II, and class III malocclusion subjects by the regression analysis. Conclusions: Glenoid fossa location varies significantly among skeletal malocclusions and glenoid fossa location has a profound effect on craniofacial morphology of skeletal class I, class II, and class III malocclusions.

Keywords

• Glenoid fossa
• Craniofacial morphology
• Skeletal class I
• Skeletal class II
• Skeletal class III