Investigation of natural head posture in different head types.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate natural head posture (NHP) in different head types. Lateral cephalograms of 99 adults (Mean age, 21.8 years +/- SD, 2.2 yrs, range between 19 and 29 yrs) were examined. Head types were determined as Hyperbrachycephal, Brachycephal, Mesocephal or Dolichocephal according to the cephalic index. Analysis of variance and the Duncan's test were performed to assess inter-group differences for the parameters. The findings revealed that, NHP was statistically not different between the head type groups. Thus, it was suggested that environmental factors during growth may alter NHP, as well as craniofacial morphology but in a different manner (i.e. degree and direction) in each head type.