A Novel Mathematical Method to Diagnose the Transverse Growth Deficit of the Nasomaxillary Complex

The diagnosis of transverse growth deficit of the maxilla in daily clinical practice is carried out mainly through the experience of a well-trained clinician, which implies a lack of objective criteria applicable in a protocolized manner. The objective of this study was to establish a mathematical method to diagnose maxillary compression in relation to the dimensions of the skull and mandible. Methods: Records of 97 cases with an overall mean age of 9.8 +/- 2.6 years were analyzed by three experienced orthodontists. The group of transverse compression was comprised of 62 cases and the control group of 35 cases. The main measurements of the widths were made on a frontal teleradiography of the skull (cranial, zygomatic, orbital, maxillary, bigonial and biantegonial width) and a lateral teleradiography of the skull (facial axis, mandibular plane, SNA, SNB, ANB and Wits). It was established that from the cranial width it is possible to predict the group to which each subject studied belongs-the compression group or the control group. A mathematical formula was obtained in the form of logistic regression that allows for the diagnosis of the presence of maxillary compression based on the cranial, maxillary and orbital widths with a sensitivity of 88.7% and a specificity of 77.1%.

Automated summary

Currently, the diagnosis of transverse growth deficit of the maxilla relies on the experience of a clinician, lacking objective criteria. This study aimed to establish a mathematical method for diagnosing maxillary compression based on skull and mandible dimensions. The study analyzed records of 97 cases and found that cranial width measurements can predict the group to which each subject belongs. A logistic regression formula based on cranial, maxillary, and orbital widths was obtained, allowing for the diagnosis of maxillary compression with high sensitivity and specificity.