Relationship between craniofacial morphology and congenitally missing mandibular incisors

Background/purpose: Treatment of incisors' agenesis is challenging that arouses orthodontists' interests. The purpose of this study was to compare the craniofacial pattern of individuals with or without congenitally missing mandibular incisors. Materials and methods: This retrospective study included patients receiving orthodontic consultation between 1999 and 2019 at the Orthodontic Division of the Dental Department of Taipei Medical University Hospital. Cephalometric measurements were obtained through manual tracing and by using computer software. A total of 31 measurements were obtained to evaluate skeletal, dental and soft tissues, and chin morphology. A multivariate analysis of covariance, analysis of covariance, and Scheffe's post hoc tests were used to analyze the dif-ferences among a group of patients with one congenitally missing mandibular incisor (M1), a group of patients with two congenitally missing mandibular incisors (M2), and the control group. Student's t-test was used to analyze the differences between the M1 or M2 group and the control group. Significance was set at P < 0.05. Results: Significant differences were observed between the M and control groups in terms of lower incisor angulation and facial balance. Regarding chin morphology, significant differences were noted between the M and control groups and also among the M1, M2, and control groups. Conclusion: The lower incisors of the M group are more retroclined than those of the control group, resulting in retrusive lower lips. Facial balance varies between the M and control groups. Congenitally missing mandibular incisors affect chin morphology, making the chin but-ton prominent. (c) 2022 Association for Dental Sciences of the Republic of China. Publishing services by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons. org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

Automated summary

This study compared the craniofacial pattern between individuals with or without congenitally missing mandibular incisors. The results showed that the lower incisors of the missing group were more retroclined, resulting in retrusive lower lips. Facial balance also differed between the missing and control groups, and congenitally missing mandibular incisors affected chin morphology, making the chin button prominent.