Variability in depth of curve of Spee and its associated skeletal and dental implications in population of Pakistan

Abstract

Background and Aim: The curve of Spee (COS) is a physiological entity in human dentition. A functional masticatory system necessitates an appropriate occlusal curvature. The primary objective of this investigation was to assess the skeletal and dental parameters in individuals with variation in the depth of curve of Spee. Materials and Methods: A total of 276 patients with pre-treatment lateral cephalograms and dental cast models were investigated in the Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics Unit of a Tertiary Care Hospital of Mardan, Pakistan from January 2021 to December 2022. Patients with no prior history of orthopedic treatment for functional jaw, prosthodontic treatment, no prior history of cleft lip and palate and cranio-facial disorders were enrolled. Ethical approval was obtained and all the patients were categorized into three groups based on the depth of curve of Spee (COS): Group-I (flat curvature < 2 mm), Group-II (normal curvature 2-3 mm), and Group-III (deep curvature > 3 mm). Lateral cephalometric analysiswas done to measure the four angular and four linear parameters. Molar relation, overbite, COS depth, and overjet were measured based on the occlusal classification. SPSS version 27 was used for data analysis.

Correlation between Depth of the Curve of Spee and Some Specific Malocclusion Characteristics in a Population from Sibiu County, Romania—A Cross-Sectional Study

“…Furthermore, the COS is inherently connected to the measurement of overjet and overbite in the diagnosis and treatment of malocclusion [14]. Studies have shown that there is a direct relationship between the depth of the COS and an increased horizontal overlap of the upper and lower teeth (overjet) [15] as well as an increased vertical overlap of the front teeth (overbite), especially in cases where there is a Class II malocclusion [5,16]. The depth of the COS directly impacts the horizontal and vertical overlapping of the teeth.…”

“…COS plays a key role in the biomechanics of mastication, influencing the ratio of crushing to tearing pressures between the back teeth and the effectiveness of biting forces during mastication [3,4]. It has been proposed that this curve improves the efficiency of food processing by increasing the mechanical advantages of the masticatory system [5].…”