Abstract

Craniofacial characteristics in two groups of children were compared. In one group (n=22) the children had Angle Class II division 2 malocclusion combined with extreme deep bite. The other group (n=25) was composed of children with ideal occlusion. The mean ages of the children were 12.8 and 12.9 years respectively.

In the Class II-2 group the distance between gonion and B-point was underdeveloped, causing B-point to have a retruded position in relation to both A-point and cranial base. The Class II-2 children also had a retroclination of the symphysis, which gave the B-point a retruded position in relation to pogonion.

As for vertical dimensions, Class II-2 children had a smaller anterior lower facial height than normal. Furthermore, Class II-2 had a discrepancy between the maxillary incisal and molar heights, i.e. a slightly larger incisal height and a slightly smaller molar height. Finally, children with Class II-2 had a high lip line and a very large interincisal angle.

Three variables – the sagittal distance between points A and B, the inclination of the symphysis, and the relationship between the maxillary incisal and molar heights - in combination, differentiated nearly 100% correctly between Class II-2 and normal occlusion.