Correlation between cephalic index and facial index in skeletal malocclusions – An analytical cross-sectional study

Abstract

Aim: The study aimed to assess the correlation between Cephalic Index and Facial Index in patients with skeletal malocclusions reporting to the Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics in a private Dental College in Kerala. Materials and Methods: A study was conducted using analytical cross-sectional study design, on patients numbering 120 (40 Class I, 40 Class II & 40 Class III) between ages 18 to 30 years. Statistical analysis was carried out with SPSS version 22.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL). The data was assessed using the Shapiro-Wilk test for normality. Inferential statistics to find the difference between the Cephalic and Facial Indices was done using the independent t-test and Chi-square test for proportion analysis. Correlation coefficient between the Facial and Cephalic indices was assessed using Pearson Correlation Coefficient. Results: A weak negative correlation existed between the Cephalic Index and Facial Index in different skeletal malocclusions-(-0.28) in Class I, (-0.15) in Class II and (-0.08) in Class III malocclusion. Conclusion: The present study observed that cranial morphology exerted a weak morphologic influence on the facial type as indicated by the weak negative correlation between the Cephalic Index and Facial Index in the different antero-posterior malocclusions.