Cephalometric characteristics of Class II Division ۲ malocclusion: A comparison with normal children

Since the publication of Angle’s definition of malocclusion types, many cephalometric researches have been carried out to determine characteristics of Class II division ۲ malocclusions; however controversies still remain. Considering the fact that a high percentage of patients seeking orthodontic treatment have this malocclusion, the present study was conducted in order to investigate Cross-Sectionally the cephalometric characteristics of Class II/۲ malocclusions in ۸-۱۲ years old patients of Tehran Orthodontic Clinics. Patients’ files and pretreatment dental casts were screened, ۳۰ Class II Division۲ (۱۷ girls, ۱۳ boys) and ۳۰ normal occlusion subjects were selected, each lateral cephalograms was traced and ۳۶ dental and skeletal parameters were measured. Moreover student t test was carried out to assess the differences between malocclusion groups. Besides maxillary incisal position (retruded in class II/۲ group) which was used as an inclusion criterion, the following differences were observed: ۱-The maxillary position is retruded compared to normal group. ۲-The mandibular length is longer but its sagittal position is retruded. ۳-The chin is more prominent. ۴-The mandibular growth vector is horizontally oriented and the mandibular plane is flat, creating the appearance of a hypodivergent facial pattern. So Lower anterior facial height was on average smaller. ۵-And finally retroclination of mandibular incisors compared to normal group is evident. These findings indicate that besides the dental characteristics, Class II/۲ malocclusion patients are also skeletally different from normal occlusion group to a certain extent.