Evaluation of facial morphology and sagittal relationship between dental arches in primary and mixed dentition

OBJECTIVE: To assess facial morphology (Pattern) and sagittal relationship between dental arches (Class), and establish a potential association between them and the variables sex, age and ethnicity, among schoolchildren aged between 4 and 9 years old (mean age of 6.7 years) in primary and mixed dentitions.METHODS: The sample comprised 875 children (457 males and 418 females) attending schools in Descalvado, São Paulo, Brazil. An attempt was made with a view to establish a potential association between children's morphological features with sex, age and ethnicity.RESULTS: Descriptive analysis revealed a predominance of facial Pattern I (69.9 %) and Class I (67.4 %). Statistical tests (p < 0.001) showed that Class I was more frequent among Pattern I children, whereas Class II prevailed among Pattern II, and Class III was frequent among Pattern I and III children. Ethnicity was the only variable associated with facial pattern.CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that facial pattern and sagittal relationship between dental arches tend to be correlated. Ethnicity was associated with facial pattern, with Pattern I being the most recurrent among Caucasians and facial Pattern II being recurrent among Afro-descendant subjects.

研究目的：评估4至9岁（平均年龄6.7岁）乳牙列与混合牙列学龄儿童的面部形态（Pattern）与牙弓矢状关系（Class），并明确二者与性别、年龄、种族变量之间的潜在关联。
研究方法：本研究纳入巴西圣保罗州德斯卡尔瓦杜市在校儿童共875名，其中男性457名、女性418名，旨在探究儿童面部形态特征与性别、年龄及种族之间的潜在关联。
研究结果：描述性分析显示，面型Pattern I占比69.9%，牙弓分类Class I占比67.4%。统计学检验（p<0.001）结果表明，面型Pattern I儿童中Class I更为常见；面型Pattern II儿童中Class II占主导；面型Pattern I与Pattern III儿童中，Class III较为多见。种族是唯一与面型相关的变量。
研究结论：本研究结果显示，面部形态与牙弓矢状关系存在相关性。种族与面型存在关联：高加索人群中Pattern I型面型最为常见，非洲裔后裔受试者中Pattern II型面型更为多见。