Cephalometric differentiation between vertical and horizontal malocclusions in 122 Europeans using the Denture Frame Analysis and standard measurements. Differentiation between vertical and horizontal malocclusion.

This study evaluated the ability of some cephalometric measurements to differentiate between horizontal and vertical malocclusions and normal occlusion. Based upon the Angle classification and the vertical incisor overbite, 122 randomly selected subjects were assigned to 3 horizontal and 3 vertical groups: neutrocclusion, distocclusion, mesiocclusion as well as open bite, normal overbite, and deep bite. Evaluation of the lateral cephalograms was based on Denture Frame Analysis and cephalometric standard measurements (SNA, SNB, ANB, Wits appraisal, Björk polygon, overbite depth indicator, incisor inclination, incisor protrusion, facial height ratio). The statistical evaluation assessed the ability of the measurements to show significant differences between the individual horizontal and vertical groups. Using Denture Frame Analysis, all vertical groups could be differentiated by the occlusomandibular angle (OP-MP) and all horizontal groups by the angle between the A-B plane and the mandibular plane as well as by the inclination of the upper incisors to the A-B plane with statistical significance (p < 0.05). Among the standard measurements, the Wits appraisal was the only one to show differences between all horizontal groups with statistical significance. None of the standard measurements could fully differentiate the vertical groups. The above measurements from the Denture Frame Analysis distinguished the types of malocclusion in anteroposterior and vertical direction including significant distinction between the neutrocclusion group and the malocclusion groups. Therefore a cephalometric classification was feasible in terms of hyper- and hypodivergence as well as of a mesial or distal dentofacial relationship.