THREE-DIMENSIONAL ASSESSMENT OF THE MAXILLA IN TOMOGRAFY OF CLASS III MALOCCLUSION PATIENTS

Resumo

Objective: The present study aimed to analyze the three-dimensional pattern of the maxilla in patients diagnosed with Class III malocclusion who underwent orthognathic surgery. Materials and Methods: This is an observational, retrospective study based on the analysis of tomographic records obtained between 2019 and 2024. Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans acquired prior to surgical intervention and available on the Proplan CMF platform were included, involving patients with a confirmed diagnosis of Class III malocclusion. Tomographic measurements were performed to identify possible morphological variations of the maxilla associated with the malocclusion. Results: The results showed that the maxillae of male patients generally exhibited larger dimensions when compared to those of female patients. Furthermore, despite the dimensional differences between sexes, each group demonstrated a relatively homogeneous internal morphological pattern, with minimal discrepancies in the measurements analyzed. These findings suggest that sexual dimorphism significantly influences the size of the maxilla in patients with Class III malocclusion but does not substantially affect the shape pattern within each group. Conclusions: It is concluded that understanding these anatomical variations is essential for the individualized planning of orthognathic surgeries, contributing to improved functional and aesthetic outcomes. Further studies with larger sample sizes are recommended to validate and expand upon the observed data.

Keywords: Angle Class III Malocclusion. Cone-Beam Computed Tomography. Malocclusion. Orthognathic Surgery. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.