Assessment of the mandibular symphysis of Caucasian Brazilian adults with well-balanced faces and normal occlusion: the influence of gender and facial type

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to establish cephalometric reference values for mandibular symphysis in adults. Dentoalveolar, skeletal and soft tissue variables were measured considering the influence of gender and facial type. METHODS: The sample consisted of sixty cephalometric radiographs of white Brazilian adult patients, with a mean age of 27 years and 6 months, who had not undergone orthodontic treatment and who presented well-balanced faces and normal occlusion. The sample was standardized according to gender (30 males and 30 females) and facial type (20 were dolichofacial, 20 mesofacial and 20 brachyfacial). RESULTS: The results showed that male and female symphyses are similar, except for symphyseal height, which was greater in males. In terms of facial type, the dolichofacial group presented narrower symphysis in dentoalveolar and basal areas, with a more accentuated lingual dentoalveolar inclination. CONCLUSION: The brachyfacial group showed broader symphysis in the dentoalveolar and basal areas and a greater buccal dentoalveolar inclination. The projection of the chin was 6.67 mm below the subnasal vertical line and there was no significant difference between the genders or facial types

Relationship between mandibular symphysis dimensions and mandibular anterior alveolar bone thickness as assessed with cone-beam computed tomography

“…Another study found that the mean symphysis width of Caucasian Brazilian adults with a well-balanced face and normal occlusion measured from LCR was 15.61 mm, with no significant difference between sexes. 26 Compared with the present findings, the wider symphysis thickness measured in that study might result from LCR image magnification, different ethnic origin, and measuring methodology. They measured the distance from the buccal to the lingual pogonion, whereas the buccal symphysis width in the present study was derived from the perpendicular distance from the buccal pogonion to its counterpart, which might not be the most posterior point of the lingual curvature.…”

Antegonial Notch and Mandibular Symphysis as indicators of Growth Pattern

“…It has been reported that a greater inclination of the symphysis is associated with an anterior growth direction and that a smaller inclination is often consistent with hyperdivergent patterns. However, Arruda et al 21 (2012) stated that facial type has no correlation with the symphysis inclination. Fig.…”

Three-Dimensional Bone Block Planning for Mandibular Sagittal Bone Defect Reconstruction

“…It has been stated that orthodontic movements in lingual or labial directions in this area are a cause of gingival recession [ 5 – 7 ]. Nevertheless, gingival recession is most commonly described in patients with insufficient bone width and bone height on the lingual and/or labial side of the mandibular alveolar bone [ 8 ]. Hence, tooth movement in the mandible is bound to certain anatomical restrictions ( Figure 1 ).…”

“…Hence, tooth movement in the mandible is bound to certain anatomical restrictions ( Figure 1 ). In case of decreased external bone substance, a risk of crossing these borders emerges which may lead to bone defects, recessions and—in the worst case scenario—tooth/teeth loss with bone loss of the surrounding alveolar ridge [ 8 , 9 ]. Regardless of a possible cause, several methods of reconstruction exist [ 10 ].…”