Role of Cranial Base Morphology in Determining Skeletal Anteroposterior Relationship of the Jaws

Objective: To investigate the cranial base morphology in skeletal Class I, II, III patients and to find any correlation. Materials and methods: Pretreatment lateral cephalograms of 75 patients were taken, 25 patients each belonged to Class I, II and III skeletal malocclusion respectively, between age group of 14 and 25 years. Results: The significantly more acute angle N-S-Ar reflected increased cranial base flexure. Resulting anterior condylar displacement was shown by significant reduction of Se-S-Cd and Ar-Ca. Relative mandibular length was significantly increased. Conclusion: Decreased basicranial angulation associated with increase in mandibular length was clearly confirmed for skeletal Class III patients. The correlation between cranial base morphology and Class II skeletal base remains unclear.