Geometric Morphometric Analysis of Mandibular Symphysis Growth between 12 and 15 Years of Age in Class II Malocclusion Subjects
Ferdinando Ruiz,
Pietro Venezia,
Vincenzo Ronsivalle,
Calogero Lacagnina,
Cristina Conforte,
Gaetano Isola,
Rosalia Leonardi,
Antonino Lo Giudice
Affiliations
Ferdinando Ruiz
Department of Medical-Surgical Specialties—Section of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, University of Catania, Policlinico Universitario “G. Rodolico-San Marco”, Via Santa Sofia 78, 95123 Catania, Italy
Pietro Venezia
Department of Medical-Surgical Specialties—Section of Periodontology, School of Dentistry, University of Catania, Policlinico Universitario “G. Rodolico-San Marco”, Via Santa Sofia 78, 95123 Catania, Italy
Vincenzo Ronsivalle
Department of Medical-Surgical Specialties—Section of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, University of Catania, Policlinico Universitario “G. Rodolico-San Marco”, Via Santa Sofia 78, 95123 Catania, Italy
Calogero Lacagnina
Department of Medical-Surgical Specialties—Section of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, University of Catania, Policlinico Universitario “G. Rodolico-San Marco”, Via Santa Sofia 78, 95123 Catania, Italy
Cristina Conforte
Department of Medical-Surgical Specialties—Section of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, University of Catania, Policlinico Universitario “G. Rodolico-San Marco”, Via Santa Sofia 78, 95123 Catania, Italy
Gaetano Isola
Department of Medical-Surgical Specialties—Section of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, University of Catania, Policlinico Universitario “G. Rodolico-San Marco”, Via Santa Sofia 78, 95123 Catania, Italy
Rosalia Leonardi
Department of Medical-Surgical Specialties—Section of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, University of Catania, Policlinico Universitario “G. Rodolico-San Marco”, Via Santa Sofia 78, 95123 Catania, Italy
Antonino Lo Giudice
Department of Medical-Surgical Specialties—Section of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, University of Catania, Policlinico Universitario “G. Rodolico-San Marco”, Via Santa Sofia 78, 95123 Catania, Italy
The aim of the present paper was to evaluate the morphology changes of the mandibular symphysis (MS) in a longitudinal retrospective cohort of class II untreated subjects. The study sample included 120 subjects followed during normal growth and examined at the age of 12 (T0) and 15 (T1) years. MS was traced using two landmarks and ten sliding semi-landmarks. The acquired morphological data were processed via Procrustes superimposition that allowed to study variation and covariation in MS’form according to specific variables such as age, gender, and skeletal pattern. The first two principal components (PCs) described more than 90 % of the total morphological variation. Both types of form changes of the symphysis could be associated with the different skeletal vertical growth patterns. Age and sex did not interfere with the form of chin symphysis. Moreover, there was no significant covariation between initial MS morphology and form modifications. Clinicians should not expect to be faced with spontaneous changes of the form of the symphysis during the orthodontic treatment of adolescents.
