The relationship between frontal sinus dimensions and skeletal malocclusion

PURPOSE: The aim of this retrospective research is to compare frontal sinus dimensions in skeletal Class I, skeletal Class II, and skeletal Class III individuals and to evaluate the relationship of these dimensions with anterior skull base length and some cephalometric values. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this research, we used lateral cephalometric radiographs of 60 people aged 17 to 25. In individuals with skeletal Class I malocclusion, skeletal Class II malocclusion due to mandibular insufficiency, and skeletal Class III malocclusion due to mandibular excess, measurements of frontal sinus length and height as well as S-N, Co-A and Co- Gn lengths, ANB0, FMA0, SN-GoGn0 angles values were performed. The length between the highest point and the lowest point of the frontal sinus was calculated as the height of the frontal sinus, and the length between the most anterior and the most posterior points of the frontal sinus was calculated as the length of the frontal sinus. RESULTS: The frontal sinus length and height were found to be higher in skeletal Class III individuals than in skeletal Class I and skeletal Class II individuals, however, there was no significant difference between skeletal Class I and Class II individuals. CONCLUSION: The increase in frontal sinus height and length correlated positively with the decrease in the ANB angle and the increase in the SN and Co-Gn lengths. The dimensions of the frontal sinus may be an indicator for the remaining mandibular growth potential.