Description

Class II malocclusion affects about 15-20% of the United Stated population. However, the precise etiology, involving environmental and genetic components, remains unclear. To characterize the disorder, lateral cephalometric films are digitalized resulting in numerous linear and angular measurements. Correlational analysis provides limited insights regarding common features or distinctive subgroups. The use of data reduction techniques, such as principal component analysis, and clustering algorithms may provide another grouping strategy. For the current analysis, cephalometric measurements from participants enrolled in the Florida Class II Malocclusion study were used. Participants’ mean age at baseline visit was 9.6 (range 6.9 -12.9). Measurements used include skeletal, soft tissue and dental measures. Early treatment results among groups are described.

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize various subgroups in the clinical presentation of a Class II malocclusion.
• Describe various grouping strategy for the classification of a Class II malocclusion.
• Identify etiologic factors underlying Class II malocclusion.

Speaker(s):

• Calogero Dolce, DDS, PhD