Personal Identification using Odontometry and Palatoscopy: A Pakistani Perspective

Aim: To determine the most common rugae pattern and to find if it has any association with dental arch form or malocclusion. Study Design and setting: It was a retrospective cross-sectional study conducted using the records of 200 patients visiting the Orthodontic Outpatient department of Bahria University Medical and Dental College. Methodology: Number, size, orientation and pattern of palatal rugae were assessed on the plaster models. Dental malocclusion along with dental arch form and width were also evaluated. Descriptive statistics such as frequencies were analyzed. Chi square, Fischer exact test and One Way ANOVA was used to see the significance of differences, p≤0.05 was considered as significant. Results: The sample comprised of class I (n=97), class II(n=87) and class III(n=16).113 cases had inter-molar width >44mm while 87 had ≤44mm. Posterior orientation of the rugae, was pre-dominant for both right (n=100) and left (n=122) first rugae. The most common pattern was curved for both first rugae on right (n=66) and left (n=72) sides. Conclusion: Our study showed that the rugae pattern, size and numbers did not show significant variation in different malocclusion classes. It can be concluded that rugae pattern do not have any significant association with malocclusion class or arch form. Keywords: Arch form, Arch width, Forensic dentistry, Malocclusion, Palatal Rugae

Differences in dental arch characteristics between genders in patients with suspected condylar hyperplasia in a North Sumatra subpopulation: a cross-sectional study

Background: Condylar Hyperplasia (CH) is a self-limiting mandibular condyle disorder that shows asymmetry progress in conjunction with associated occlusal changes as long as condylar growth is still active and leads to facial asymmetry. This study aimed to analysis the difference of dental arch characteristics based on genders in orthodontic patients with suspected CH in a North Sumatra subpopulation. Methods: This is a retrospective study of suspected CH patient’s clinical records who sought for the initial orthodontic treatment between January 2015 to March 2019. Patient with facial asymmetry (based on photography, posterior crossbite and midline deviation), the positive temporomandibular joint disorder in functional analysis, and no history of facial trauma were included in the study. Dental arch asymmetry was based on the measurement of dental midline deviation, canine tip in the dental arch, the distance of the upper canines from the palatal suture, and inter canine distance. The evaluation of dental arch was achieved by comparing arch width and length. Results: There was a significant difference (p<0.05) of upper canine distance from the palatal suture in female patients when evaluating upper dental arch asymmetry. There was a moderate correlation (r=0.379) in midline deviation between upper and lower dental arch. The dimension and dental arch form were mid and flat, and there was moderate correlation (r=0.448) between the upper and lower dental arch form in these suspected CH patients. Conclusion: Indeed skeletal asymmetry, the evaluation of the dental arch characteristic symmetry and arch form showed asymmetric occlusal characteristics in orthodontics patient with suspected CH in the North Sumatera subpopulation. In treating these patients, we recommend the plaster cast evaluation as essential and routine procedure in order to understand the complexity of occlusal change due to active growth of condylar and limitation in radiography evaluation.

Evaluation of dental arches in orthodontic patients with condylar hyperplasia in a North Sumatra subpopulation: a cross-sectional study

Background: Condylar Hyperplasia (CH) is a self-limiting mandibular condyle disorder that shows asymmetry progress conjunction with associated occlusal changes as long as condylar growth is still active and leads to facial asymmetry. This study aimed to evaluate dental arches by analyzing dental arch asymmetry and form in orthodontic patients with CH in a North Sumatra subpopulation. Methods: This is a retrospective study of suspected CH patient’s clinical records who sought for the initial orthodontic treatment between January 2015 to March 2019. Patient with facial asymmetry (based on photography, posterior cross bite and midline deviation), positive temporomandibular joint disorder in functional analysis, and no history of facial trauma were included in the study. Dental arch asymmetry was based on the measurement of dental midline deviation, canine tip in the dental arch, distance of the upper canines from the palatal suture, and inter canine distance. The evaluation of dental arch was achieved by comparing arch width and length. Results: There was a significant difference (p<0.05) of upper canine distance from the palatal suture in female patients when evaluating upper dental arch asymmetry. There was a moderate correlation (r=0.379) in midline deviation between upper and lower dental arch. The dimension and dental arch form was mid and flat, and there was moderate correlation (r=0.448) between the upper and lower dental arch form in these CH patients. Conclusion: The evaluation of dental arch symmetry and arch form showed asymmetric occlusal characteristics in orthodontics patient with CH in North Sumatera subpopulation. In treating these patients, we recommend the plaster cast evaluation as essential and routine procedure in order to understand the complexity of occlusal change due to active growth of condylar and limitation in radiography evaluation.

Evaluation of dental arches in orthodontic patients with condylar hyperplasia in a North Sumatra subpopulation: a cross-sectional study

Background: Condylar Hyperplasia (CH) is a self-limiting mandibular condyle disorder that shows asymmetry progress conjunction with associated occlusal changes as long as condylar growth is still active and leads to facial asymmetry. This study aimed to evaluate dental arches by analyzing dental arch asymmetry and form in orthodontic patients with CH in a North Sumatra subpopulation. Methods: This is a retrospective study of suspected CH patient’s clinical records who sought for the initial orthodontic treatment between January 2015 to March 2019. Patient with facial asymmetry (based on photography, posterior cross bite and midline deviation), positive temporomandibular joint disorder in functional analysis, and no history of facial trauma were included in the study. Dental arch asymmetry was based on the measurement of dental midline deviation, canine tip in the dental arch, distance of the upper canines from the palatal suture, and inter canine distance. The evaluation of dental arch was achieved by comparing arch width and length. Results: There was a significant difference (p<0.05) of upper canine distance from the palatal suture in female patients when evaluating upper dental arch asymmetry. There was a moderate correlation (r=0.379) in midline deviation between upper and lower dental arch. The dimension and dental arch form was mid and flat, and there was moderate correlation (r=0.448) between the upper and lower dental arch form in these CH patients. Conclusion: The evaluation of dental arch symmetry and arch form showed asymmetric occlusal characteristics in orthodontics patient with CH in North Sumatera subpopulation. In treating these patients, we recommend the plaster cast evaluation as essential and routine procedure in order to understand the complexity of occlusal change due to active growth of condylar and limitation in radiography evaluation.

Adolescent dental arch development among Southern Chinese in Hong Kong: a geometric morphometric approach

This study aimed to investigate changes in types of dental arch form during adolescence and explore adolescent changes in size and form of dental arch. Hong Kong Chinese were recruited and digital dental arch models were obtained at ages 12, 15, and 18 years. Geometric morphometrics was used to investigate adolescent changes of dental arch form. There were 225 participants from whom digital models at all three age periods were available. Three types of dental arch form were identified through clustering. Significant changes (p < 0.001) in types of dental arch form were noted during age 12–18 years. During age 12–18 years, significant changes in centroid size and form of dental arch were observed (p < 0.001). No significant changes were observed during 15–18 years. Adolescent changes of dental arch form occur primarily during age 12–15 years, whereas dental arch form was relatively stable during age 15–18 years.