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 Table of Contents  
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Year : 2019  |  Volume : 10  |  Issue : 3  |  Page : 116-120

Analysis of frontal sinus in various malocclusions


Department of Orthodontics, Bharati Vidyapeeth Dental College and Hospital, Pune, Maharashtra, India

Date of Submission08-Apr-2019
Date of Decision16-May-2019
Date of Acceptance16-May-2019
Date of Web Publication23-Sep-2019

Correspondence Address:
Aishwarya Sabharwal
Department of Orthodontics, Bharati Vidyapeeth Dental College and Hospital, Pune-Satara Road, Katraj, Dhankawadi, Pune - 411 043, Maharashtra
India
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Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None


DOI: 10.4103/ijor.ijor_16_19

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  Abstract 

Aims: The study aims to investigate the normal dimensions of the frontal sinus and determine the role of the frontal sinus in various skeletal malocclusions and also to analyze the relationship between the length of the mandible and frontal sinus dimension.
Materials and Methods: A total of 120 lateral cephalograms were selected according to the criteria and were grouped mainly into three groups: Group 1 – Class I (N = 40), Group 2 – Class II (n = 40), and Group 3 – Class III (n = 40). These were traced and analyzed by recording the linear measurements such as maximum width, maximum height, area of frontal sinus region, and the length of the mandible. To compare the difference between the skeletal classes, one-way ANOVA test was performed followed by post hoc with Sidak and Bonferroni statistical tests.
Results: There was no such significant difference in the measurements of maximum width, height, and area of frontal sinus region of classes I, II, and III.
Conclusions: After analyzing the linear dimensions, we found out that there is a significant difference in height, width, and area of the frontal sinus region with respect to classes I, II, and III. Therefore, we can say that the frontal sinus plays a significant role in depicting skeletal malocclusions.

Keywords: ANOVA test, frontal sinus, frontal sinus dimensions, lateral cephalograms, malocclusions


How to cite this article:
Sabharwal A, Patil AS, Shinde S, Swami V. Analysis of frontal sinus in various malocclusions. Int J Orthod Rehabil 2019;10:116-20

How to cite this URL:
Sabharwal A, Patil AS, Shinde S, Swami V. Analysis of frontal sinus in various malocclusions. Int J Orthod Rehabil [serial online] 2019 [cited 2024 Mar 28];10:116-20. Available from: https://www.orthodrehab.org/text.asp?2019/10/3/116/267590


  Introduction Top


A lateral cephalogram is a profile X-ray of the skull and soft tissues and is used to assess the relation of the teeth in the jaws, the relation of the jaws to the skull, and the relation of the soft tissues to the teeth and jaws. Since Broadbent introduced radiography in the year 1931, it has been used primarily for orthodontic diagnosis and treatment.[1],[2] From ages, various anatomical landmarks of lateral cephalogram have been used for assessment of different malocclusion and its treatment planning.[3] The landmarks used in this study are paranasal sinus. Paranasal sinus is a group of four paired air-filled spaces that surround the nasal cavity. The four paranasal sinuses present in the human body are: the maxillary sinus, frontal sinus, ethmoidal sinus, and sphenoidal sinuses. We have used the frontal sinus in this study, as it can be easily identified in the lateral cephalogram.[2],[4],[5],[6],[7] The frontal sinuses are the paranasal sinuses which are superior to the eyes, in the frontal bone, which forms the hard part of the forehead. The development and size of the frontal sinus can be crucial for diagnosing and treating various malocclusions. It is widely used in forensic science due to its irregular shape and individual characteristics making it unique for individuals the same as fingerprints.[8] Thus, we decided to analyze whether the frontal sinus plays any role in various skeletal malocclusions and if it has any effect on the length of the mandible.


  Materials and Methods Top


A total of 120 lateral cephalograms were selected according to the criteria mentioned below and were grouped mainly into three groups: Group 1 – Class I (n = 40), Group 2 – Class II (n = 40), and Group 3 – Class III (n = 40). All cephalograms were of the same dimension, magnification, and printed from the same machine. The ethical approval was obtained from the Institutional Ethical Committee. Being a retrospective study, the patients were informed that their lateral cephalograms will be used for further studies, and the consent was obtained during that time.

Criteria for selection of the cephalograms are as follows:

  • Participant should be healthy with no systemic diseases, signs of trauma, or a congenital disease
  • Participant should not have any paranasal sinuses pathology. Participant should show no sign of previous orthodontic treatment
  • Participant should be between the age group of 16–30 years


    • All Class I malocclusion patients had an ANB value between 1° and 4°
    • All Class II malocclusion patients had an amplitude of ANB value >4°
    • All Class III malocclusion patients had an amplitude of ANB value<1°.


Method

  • Cephalograms were grouped mainly into three groups: Group 1 – Class I (n = 40), Group 2 – Class II (n = 40), and Group 3 – Class III (n = 40)
  • All lateral cephalograms were taken by skilled and experienced technicians in a standard natural head position as recommended by Broadbent
  • The ethical approval was obtained from the institutional ethical committee. Being a retrospective study, the patients were informed that their lateral cephalograms will be used for further studies and consent was obtained during that time
  • The cephalograms were manually traced by a single researcher with the help of a 0.5-mm thick lead pencil and a millimeter scale for the planes on orthodontic tracing paper
  • For the linear measurements, a millimeter precision digital vernier caliper for the registration of the reading
  • Beside routine anatomical designs, the cephalometric points traced are given in [Table 1] and linear measurements taken are given in [Table 2]
  • The frontal sinus area was calculated by superimposing the frontal sinus drawn acetate paper over a standard graph paper sheet and counting the number of squares present within the inner outline of frontal sinus
  • It was measured as square millimeters
  • When more than half area of the square was within the perimeter of the frontal sinus, it was also counted as full square, whereas squares having less than half of the areas inside the perimeter were excluded from the count.
Table 1: Cephalometric points to be traced on the cephalogram

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Table 2: Linear measurements to be traced on the cephalogram

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Statistical analysis

The data were statistically analyzed with SPSS 20 Software (IBM, Chicago, Illinois, USA). Data were subjected to descriptive analysis for the mean and standard deviation of all variables and ranges. One-way ANOVA and a post hoc test (Bonferroni and Sidak) were used for multiple comparisons. P <0.05 was considered as the level for statistically significant data [Table 3] and [Table 4].
Table 3: ANOVA test to measure P value

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Table 4: Bonferroni and Sidak methods were used for post hoc analysis

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  Results Top


The effectively length of the mandible was statistically significant and showed the length of the mandible in the different classes (P = 0.004). This shows the variation in length in the different classes. Post hoc analysis shows that the effective length of the mandible is highest in Class III and is the shortest in Class II. This signifies the correlation of the mandible with the different classes. The maximum width and area of frontal sinus are statistically significant in Class III patients and hence shows a positive relationship between the length of the mandible and the maximum width and area of the frontal sinus.


  Discussion Top


The frontal sinuses are one of the four pairs of paranasal sinuses that are situated behind the brow ridges. Sinuses are mucosa-lined airspaces within the bones of the face and skull. Each opens into the anterior part of the corresponding middle nasal meatus of the nose through the frontonasal duct which traverses the anterior part of the labyrinth of the ethmoid. The frontal sinus bud is present during the birth in the ethmoidal region, but it is not evident radiographically until the age of 5 years when it projects above the orbital rims.[9] The sinus grows till the age of 12 years. Tanner found that the annual height increments in children reached a plateau at 16 years in boys and 14 years in girls, and it was thought that these, too, were the ages at which frontal sinus enlargement ceased.[10] This suggests that the increase in the sinus size very closely follows a growth trend similar to that of other bones. The development and size of frontal sinus can be crucial for diagnosing and treating various malocclusions. Joffe,[11] Rossouw et al.[12] found the frontal sinus enlargement to be associated with prognathic patients. The lateral cephalograms are widely used to study morphologic characteristics of various malocclusions.[13],[14],[15],[16],[17] The present study was carried out to analyze the correlation of frontal sinus with different skeletal pattern. According to the results, we can state that there is a correlation between dimensions of frontal size with different skeletal patterns.
Figure 1: Various cephalometric landmarks that are required for the tracing of lateral cephalogram. (1) Nasion (N), (2) Supspinale (point A), (3) Supramentale (point B), (4) Point Sh (Sh), (5) Point Sl (Sl), (6) Condylion (Co), (7) Gnathion (Gn)

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Figure 2: The point described in the figure are as follows: (1) Nasion (n), (4) Point Sh (Sh), (5) Point Sl (Sl), Maximum height (a), Maximum width (b)

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Apart from this, previously various studies have been carried out, and it was suggested that acromegaly is associated with prominent frontal sinus and overgrowth of the jawbone, and one usually finds a class III type prognathic mandible in these cases.[18],[19] Another study conducted by Ricketts et al. cephalometrically analyzed the skeletal growth patterns of 103 patients with Class I and Class III malocclusions to assess abnormal mandibular growth. The results indicate that there is a significant correlation between maxillary length, mandibular length, condylar length, and frontal sinus size on a lateral cephalogram. Thus, the frontal sinus can possibly be used as an additional indicator when one is predicting mandibular growth.

In the present study, manual tracing was used for calculation of the maximum height, maximum width, and frontal sinus area of the frontal sinus. Although in some studies, the digital method was used to measure these factors, the manual technique has accuracy similar to that of digital technique in this regard.[3] Thus, considering its affordability, the manual technique was used. It seems that further investigations in several centers with larger sample sizes can increase the accuracy of the obtained data and standards.


  Conclusions Top


The maximum width and area of the frontal sinus are statistically significant in Class III patients and hence shows a positive relationship between the length of the mandible and the maximum width and area of the frontal sinus.

Financial support and sponsorship

Self.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.

 
  References Top

1.
Albarakati SF, Kula KS, Ghoneima AA. The reliability and reproducibility of cephalometric measurements: A comparison of conventional and digital methods. Dentomaxillofac Radiol 2012;41:11-7.  Back to cited text no. 1
    
2.
Atchison KA, Luke LS, White SC. Contribution of pretreatment radiographs to orthodontists' decision making. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol 1991;71:238-45.  Back to cited text no. 2
    
3.
Endo T, Abe R, Kuroki H, Kojima K, Oka K, Shimooka S, et al. Cephalometric evaluation of maxillary sinus sizes in different malocclusion classes. Odontology 2010;98:65-72.  Back to cited text no. 3
    
4.
Axelsson S, Storhaug K, Kjaer I. Post-natal size and morphology of the sella turcica. Longitudinal cephalometric standards for Norwegians between 6 and 21 years of age. Eur J Orthod 2004;26:597-604.  Back to cited text no. 4
    
5.
Brown WA, Molleson TI, Chinn S. Enlargement of the frontal sinus. Ann Hum Biol 1984;11:221-6.  Back to cited text no. 5
    
6.
Devereux L, Moles D, Cunningham SJ, McKnight M. How important are lateral cephalometric radiographs in orthodontic treatment planning? Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop 2011;139:e175-81.  Back to cited text no. 6
    
7.
Durão AR, Pittayapat P, Rockenbach MI, Olszewski R, Ng S, Ferreira AP, et al. Validity of 2D lateral cephalometry in orthodontics: A systematic review. Prog Orthod 2013;14:31.  Back to cited text no. 7
    
8.
Kullman L, Eklund B, Grundin R. Value of the frontal sinus in identification of unknown persons. J Forensic Odontostomatol 1990;8:3-10.  Back to cited text no. 8
    
9.
Harris AM, Wood RE, Nortjé CJ, Thomas CJ. Gender and ethnic differences of the radiographic image of the frontal region. J Forensic Odontostomatol 1987;5:51-7.  Back to cited text no. 9
    
10.
Tanner JM. Growth at Adolescence. 2nd ed. Oxford: Blackwell Scientific Publications; 1962.  Back to cited text no. 10
    
11.
Joffe BM. Frontal sinus enlargement associated with mandibular prognathism. J Dent Assoc S Afr 1964;33:127-9.  Back to cited text no. 11
    
12.
Rossouw PE, Lombard CJ, Harris AM. The frontal sinus and mandibular growth prediction. Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop 1991;100:542-6.  Back to cited text no. 12
    
13.
Jacobson A. The “Wits” appraisal of jaw disharmony. Am J Orthod 1975;67:125-38.  Back to cited text no. 13
    
14.
Nijkamp PG, Habets LL, Aartman IH, Zentner A. The influence of cephalometrics on orthodontic treatment planning. Eur J Orthod 2008;30:630-5.  Back to cited text no. 14
    
15.
Ruf S, Pancherz H. Development of the frontal sinus in relation to somatic and skeletal maturity. A cephalometric roentgenographic study at puberty. Eur J Orthod 1996;18:491-7.  Back to cited text no. 15
    
16.
Salehi P, Heidari S, Khajeh F. Relationship between frontal sinus surface area and mandibular size on lateral cephalograms of adults. J Isfahan Dent Sch 2012;8:244-50.  Back to cited text no. 16
    
17.
Steiner CC. Cephalometrics for you and me. Am J Orthod 1953;39:729-55.  Back to cited text no. 17
    
18.
Ruf S, Pancherz H. Frontal sinus development as an indicator for somatic maturity at puberty? Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop 1996;110:476-82.  Back to cited text no. 18
    
19.
Shafer WG, Hine MK, Levy BM. A Textbook of Oral Pathology. 3rd ed. Philadelphia: WB Saunders; 1974. p. 606-7.  Back to cited text no. 19
    


    Figures

  [Figure 1], [Figure 2]
 
 
    Tables

  [Table 1], [Table 2], [Table 3], [Table 4]


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