Relationship among Types of Growth Patterns, Buccolingual Molar Inclination and Cortical Bone Thickness of the Mandible

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between different types of growth patterns, the buccolingual molar inclination and cortical bone thickness of the mandible. Materials and methods: The material consisted of total 30 cases within the age range of 18 to 25 years. They all demonstrated normal occlusion with a minimal dental discrepancy without any cross bite or facial asymmetry. The selected subjects were differentiated clinically into horizontal growth pattern, normal growth pattern and vertical growth pattern based on the parameters like clinical FMA and antegonial notch. Results: The cortical bone thickness of the first permanent mandibular molar (M1) and second permanent mandibular molar (M2) sections was thicker in short-faced subjects than in average and long-faced subjects. The buccolingual inclination of the first permanent mandibular molar (M1) and second permanent mandibular molar (M2) sections in the short-faced subjects was significantly smaller than the same dimension in the average and long-faced subjects. Conclusion: The results of this study provide evidence that a significant, but complex relationship exists between structures of the mandibular body and types of growth pattern. The morphological features that relate to masticatory function and types of growth pattern are associated with the cortical bone thickness of the mandibular body and the buccolingual inclination of the first and second permanent mandibular molars.