Correlating cervical vertebrae morphology and maxillomandibular length among adults with different skeletal relations: A cephalometric study

Abstract

Objectives: Literature reveals the association between the morphology of cervical vertebrae and craniofacial skeleton. The present study investigated the correlation between the morphology of C3 and C4 vertebrae with the maxillomandibular length among adult patients with different sagittal skeletal malocclusions. Materials and Methods: Lateral cephalograms of 76 subjects aged >17 years were segregated into different sagittal skeletal classes based on maxillomandibular differential (MMD), i.e., 30 Class I (MMD 25–30 mm), 30 Class II (MMD <25 mm), and 16 Class III (MMD >30 mm), respectively. Cervical vertebrae C3 and C4 were evaluated for morphology and vertebral index was assessed. The data were subjected to appropriate statistical analysis to evaluate any association between cervical vertebral morphology and maxillomandibular length among subjects in different sagittal skeletal relations. Results: Nonstatistically significant differences were obtained in the morphology of C3 and C4 vertebrae among different skeletal sagittal malocclusions along with no gender differences for the same in each skeletal relation. Conclusion: No significant correlation exists between C3 and C4 vertebral morphology and maxillomandibular length among adult subjects as well as male and female subjects with different sagittal skeletal malocclusions.