Bacground/Aim. The literature suggests different views on the correlation
between the cranial base morphology and size and saggital intermaxillary
relationships. The aim of this study was to investigate the cranial base
morphology, including the frontal facial part in patients with mandibular
prognathism, to clarify a certain ambiguities, in opposing viewspoints in
the literature. Methods. Cephalometric radiographies of 60 patients were
analyzed at the Dental Clinic of the Military Medical Academy, Belgrade,
Serbia. All the patients were male, aged 18-35 years, with no previous
orthodontic treatment. On the basis of dental and sceletal relations of jaws
and teeth, the patients were divided into two groups: the group P (patients
with mandibular prognathism) and the group E (the control group or eugnathic
patients). A total of 15 cephalometric parametres related to the cranial
base, frontal part of the face and sagittal intermaxillary relationships
were measured and analyzed. Results. The results show that cranial base
dimensions and the angle do not play a significant role in the development
of mandibular prognathism. Interrelationship analysis indicated a
statistically significant negative correlation between the cranial base
angle (NSAr) and the angles of maxillary (SNA) and mandibular (SNB)
prognathism, as well as a positive correlation between the angle of
inclination of the ramus to the cranial base (GoArNS) and the angle of
sagittal intermaxillary relationships (ANB). Sella turcica dimensions, its
width and depth, as well as the nasal bone length were significantly
increased in the patients with mandibular prognathism, while the other
analyzed frontal part dimensions of the face were not changed by the
malocclusion in comparison with the eugnathic patients. Conclusion. This
study shows that the impact of the cranial base and the frontal part of the
face on the development of profile in patients with mandibular prognathism
is much smaller, but certainly more complex, so that morphogenetic tests of
the maxillomandibular complex should be included in further assessment of
this impact.