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Relationship between pterygomaxillary fissure morphology and maxillary/mandibular position

A cone beam computed tomography assessment

Beziehung zwischen der Morphologie der Fissura pterygomaxillaris und der Position von Ober‑/Unterkiefer

Eine Untersuchung mittels digitaler Volumentomographie

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Journal of Orofacial Orthopedics / Fortschritte der Kieferorthopädie Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this study was to investigate the possible correlation between maxillary and mandibular positioning via cephalometric analysis with pterygomaxillary fissure (PMF) morphology using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT).

Methods

In this study, CBCT images from 825 individuals (448 female, 377 male; age range was 18-91 years with this cohort) were analyzed; PMF length and width were measured. Three-dimensional cephalometric analysis was also performed using cephalometric analysis software. The landmarks and measurements in relation to maxillary and mandibular positions were identified and performed for the cephalometric analysis. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used for comparison of the parameters, while the Bonferroni test was used for multiple comparisons. Pearson’s test was also used to assess the correlations between the parameters.

Results

The results showed that males had significantly larger PMF length (p < 0.001) and width (p < 0.001) compared to females. The mean PMF length was 17.7 mm (standard deviation [SD] 3.2 mm) for right and 17.7 mm (SD 3.3 mm) for left but were not significantly different (p > 0.05). In terms of the cephalometric measurements, a significant correlation was found between upper central incisor (U1toAperp2D) and posterior facial height (PostFaceHtSGo2D) and PMF length, while correlations were found between PMF width and several cephalometric parameters such as lower lip (LwLiptoEPln2D and LwLiptoHLine2D) and occlusal plane (OPtoFHAng2D) (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

A significant relationship was observed between PMF morphology and the position of the maxilla or mandible. PMF lengths and widths were larger in males than females. Posteroanterior maxillary and mandibular lengths and posterior facial height are associated with PMF length and width.

Zusammenfassung

Zielsetzung

Ziel dieser Studie war die Untersuchung einer möglichen Korrelation zwischen Ober- und Unterkieferposition und der Morphologie der Fissura pterygomaxiallis (PMF). Die Ober- und Unterkieferposition wurde mittels kephalometrischer Analyse ermittelt, während die Morphologie der PMF mit Hilfe der digitalen Volumentomographie (DVT) untersucht wurde.

Methoden

DVT-Bilder von 825 Probanden (448 weiblich, 377 männlich; Altersbereich 18–91 Jahre) wurden analysiert, PMF-Länge und -Breite wurden gemessen. Dreidimensionale kephalometrische Analysen wurde zudem mit einer kephalometrischen Analysesoftware durchgeführt. Dazu wurden die Landmarken und Messungen in Bezug auf die Kiefer- und Unterkieferpositionen identifiziert. Die Varianzanalyse (ANOVA) wurde für den Vergleich der Parameter verwendet, der Bonferroni-Test für Mehrfachvergleiche. Der Pearson-Test wurde außerdem zur Beurteilung der Korrelationen zwischen den Parametern verwendet.

Ergebnisse

Die Ergebnisse zeigten, dass die männlichen Probanden im Vergleich zu den weiblichen Probanden eine signifikant größere PMF-Länge (p < 0,001) und Breite (p < 0,001) aufwiesen. Die mittlere PMF-Länge betrug 17,7 mm (Standardabweichung [SD] 3,2 mm) für die rechte und 17,7 mm (SD 3,3 mm) für die linke Seite, wobei die Unterschiede nicht signifikant waren (p < 0,05). Bei den kephalometrischen Messungen zeigte sich eine signifikante Korrelation zwischen dem oberen zentralen Schneidezahn (U1toAperp2D) und der hinteren Gesichtshöhe (PostFaceHtSGo2D) und der PMF-Länge, während sich Korrelationen zwischen der PMF-Breite und verschiedenen kephalometrischen Parametern wie Unterlippe (LwLiptoEPln2D und LwLiptoHLine2D) und Okklusionsebene (OPtoFHAng2D) fanden (p < 0,05).

Schlussfolgerung

Beobachtet wurde ein signifikanter Zusammenhang zwischen der PMF-Morphologie und der Position des Ober- bzw. Unterkiefers. Die PMF-Längen und -Breiten waren bei den Männern größer als bei den Frauen. Es bestand eine Assoziation zwischen posteroanteriorer Ober- und Unterkieferlänge sowie posteriorer Gesichtshöhe und PMF-Länge und -Breite.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank to Simon Thompson for his help.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Bülent Ecevit University, Zonguldak, Turkey

    M. Icen

  2. Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Dentomaxillofacial Radiology, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey

    K. Orhan

  3. University Hospitals Leuven, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Imaging and Pathology, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, OMFS IMPATH Research Group, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium

    K. Orhan

  4. School of Dentistry, Department of Orthodontics, Near East University, Nicosia, North Cyprus

    U. Oz DDS PhD

  5. School of Dentistry, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Girne University, Girne, North Cyprus

    S. Horasan

  6. Department of Dentomaxillofacial Radiology, Health Sciences University, Ankara, Turkey

    H. Avsever

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  1. M. Icen
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Correspondence to U. Oz DDS PhD.

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Conflict of interest

M. Icen, K. Orhan, U. Oz, S. Horasan and H. Avsever declare that they have no competing interests.

Ethical standards

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants or on human tissue were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1975 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study. Ethical approval was obtained from the Near East University Scientific Research Ethics Committee (IRB approval number 18/2011-16).

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Icen, M., Orhan, K., Oz, U. et al. Relationship between pterygomaxillary fissure morphology and maxillary/mandibular position. J Orofac Orthop 81, 183–191 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00056-019-00215-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00056-019-00215-4

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