Özge Uslu Akçam

Background: Third-molar agenesis is the most common dentofacial anomaly. Therefore, this retrospective study aims to assess the possible association between craniofacial patterns and third-molar agenesis in orthodontic patients.Methods: A total of 200 patients receiving orthodontic treatment, whose dental records included anamnesis, pretreatment lateral cephalograms, and orthopantomograms, were assessed. Digital cephalometric analyses were performed, and skeletal classes were established using the individualized ANB angle (the angle between Nasion-point A line and Nasion-point B line) and GoGn/SN angle (the angle between Gonion-Gnathion line and Sella-Nasion line). The identification of third-molar agenesis was facilitated through the use of orthopantomograms. The data obtained in this study were analyzed using the SPSS version 22 statistical software. Chi-square analyses were conducted, and the intraclass correlation coefficient was used to assess intra-observer reliability.Results: Forty-one cases (20.5%) presented at least 1 third-molar agenesis. The highest number of absent third molars was observed in the tooth number 18, 28, 48, and 38 respectively. The most frequent pattern of third-molar tooth agenesis is absence of 4 (78%), 3 (14.6%), 1 (4.9%) and 2 third molars (2.4%) respectively. There was no significant difference between sexes in terms of agenesis status. Sagittal classification does not have a significant effect on agenesis status. There was a significant relationship between agenesis status and vertical classification. In particular, individuals with agenesis are more likely to have hypodivergent facial typeand less likely to have hyperdivergent facial type.Conclusion: The tooth with the highest number of agenesis was number 18. Sagittal skeletal classification does not exhibit a significant impact; however, there is a significant relationship between third-molar agenesis and vertical skeletal classification.Cite this article as: Uslu - Akçam Ö, İbişoğlu GN. Is there a relationship between third-molar agenesis and craniofacial morphology? Essent Dent. 2026, 5, 0038, doi:10.5152/EssentDent.2026.25038

Gülümseme dentofasiyal estetikteki en önemli unsurların başında gelmektedir. Gülümseme ve yüz hareketleri iletişim ve duyguların ifade edilmesiyle oldukça ilişkilidir ve ortodontistlerin oldukça ilgisini çekmektedir. Gülümseme; poz verilmiş ve spontan olabilir. Dudak elevasyonu spontan gülümsemede daha sık gözlenir, özellikle kahkahanın eşlik ettiği gülümsemede olur. Gülümseme sırasında gingivanın bir miktar görünümü kabul edilebilir hatta bazı durumlarda estetik ve genç görünüm sağlar. Gülümseme esnasında dişetinin fazla görünmesi olarak bilinen Gummy smile genel olarak estetik disharmoniye neden olan, dişetinin 3-4 mm’ den fazla gözüktüğü, patolojik olmayan bir durum olarak tanımlanabilir. Bu derlemenin amacı gülümsemenin özelliklerini anlatmak, Gummy smile’ı tanımlamak, Gummy smile etiyolojisi ve sınıflandırılmasını gözden geçirmektir. Gummy smile tedavisinde keser intrüzyonu ile tedavi, mini vida destekli tedavi, ortognatik cerrahi tedavi yaklaşımları ve diğer tedavi yaklaşımlarını anlatmaktır.

Objective: To evaluate the measurements made on digital scans of maxillary plaster models in comparison with those obtained directly with a digital caliper on plaster models obtained from individuals with unilateral cleft lip and palate. Methods: This study included 42 unilateral cleft lip and palate cases and a control group of 43 Angle Class I cases. The research material consisted of maxillary orthodontic plaster models obtained from these individuals and three-dimensional digital models obtained by scanning these models with a 3 Shape Trios scanner. A total of 12 anatomic reference points were used and six transverse dimension parameters were measured. The differences between the two groups were examined with a Student’s t-test. Intraclass correlation coefficients were calculated for repeatability and similarity evaluations. Results: Significant differences were found between the CLP and control groups for all parameters, with smaller values obtained in the CLP group. In the CLP group, when comparing the asymmetry of the right and left regions in the 3 Shape model, significant differences were observed regarding all parameters (p < 0.05); furthermore, there was a significant difference between the CLP and control groups (p < 0.05) in the asymmetry comparison. In both groups, there was no statistically significant difference in the measured parameters between the 3 Shape and digital caliper measurements. Conclusions: The measurements obtained after scanning plaster models from CLP individuals with the 3 Shape digital scanner are acceptable and reliable. It can be concluded that the transfer of CLP patients’ archived plaster models to the digital environment is reliable regarding scientific research and clinical measurements.

This study aimed to determine normative values for mesiodistal and buccolingual crown diameters of permanent teeth in the Turkish population and compare them with values reported in previous studies for other populations and the Turkish population. The mesiodistal and buccolingual diameters of permanent teeth were measured using digital calipers from dental cast models of 200 patients. The data analysis was conducted employing the SPSS 21 package software. The descriptive statistics were obtained for all parameters. Student t-test was utilized to compare the measurements between male and female patients. A paired t-test was used to compare the right and left side teeth. The significance level was set at 0.05. A total of 4800 teeth were measured. Men’s tooth sizes were larger than women’s tooth sizes. A stronger sexual dimorphism was observed in the buccolingual diameter in comparison to the mesiodistal diameter. No clinically significant differences were observed between antimeric teeth. In the maxilla and mandible, the first molars were found to have the largest mesiodistal and buccolingual diameters, whereas mandibular central teeth had the smallest diameters. Current norm values of mesiodistal and buccolingual diameters of permanent teeth in the Turkish population were established. The norm values presented are close to the tooth dimensions in studies carried out on other populations. Compared to previous studies, there is an increase in mesiodistal diameters in the Turkish population, with this increase being more pronounced in males. The mean mesiodistal and buccolingual diameters of permanent teeth can be useful for orthodontists, prosthodontists, anatomists, anthropologists, and forensic dentistry specialists.

Panoramic radiography is widely used for initial assessment during clinical examinations. It is very useful for clinicians to predict impaction of third molar teeth via certain parameters without relying solely on personal experience. This study aims to examine the relationship between the impaction of mandibular third molar teeth and mandibular morphology. Thus, mandibular third molar tooth impaction estimation can be provided with measurements made on panoramic radiography. The study material consisted of panoramic radiographs of 330 patients. The experimental group with impacted mandibular third molar teeth included 165 patients (mean age 20.62 ± 2.89 years), and the control group with erupted mandibular third molar teeth included 165 patients (mean age 22.23 ± 4.22 years). Nine dimensional, four angular, andone1 proportional parameter were examined on panoramic radiographs via the ImageJ program. The Mann‒Whitney U test, Kruskal‒Wallis H test, chi‒square test and correlation analysis were used for statistical analysis. Intraobserver reliability was examined via the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Dimensional parameters such as condyle length, coronoid length, mandibular corpus width, sigmoid notch depth, retromolar space distance, and antegonial notch depth were significantly lower in the experimental group than in the control group. The Co/Cr angle was also significantly greater in the experimental group, whereas the alpha angle was significantly greater in the other groups. The ratio of the retromolar space distance to the third molar tooth width was also significantly greater in the control group. Mandibular third molar tooth impaction is related to various parameters of mandibular morphology. Certain measurements taken from panoramic radiographs may provide predictions regarding the likelihood of mandibular third molar impaction.

Background: This study aimed to compare the reproducibility and reliability of the AI-supported WebCeph and app-aided OneCeph cephalometric analysis programs with a manual analysis method and to evaluate the analysis times. Methods: The study material consisted of pretreatment lateral cephalograms from 110 cases. Cephalometric analyses were performed manually, using the WebCeph program, and using the OneCeph application. A total of 11 skeletal, 6 dental, and 3 soft tissue parameters were measured. Cephalometric analyses of 30 randomly selected cases were performed again using three methods. The analysis times were recorded. Results: The WebCeph program and OneCeph application are highly compatible with the manual analysis method in terms of all parameters, except for SN measurement. It was found that the WebCeph program and the OneCeph application demonstrated moderate agreement in U1-NA distance measurement, while statistically high agreement was observed among all three methods for other dental parameters. It was determined that there was a moderate agreement among the methods in terms of nasolabial angle, whereas a statistically high level of agreement was found for the other soft tissue parameters. The analysis time was found to be the lowest in the WebCeph program and the highest in the manual analysis method. Conclusions: The WebCeph program and OneCeph application showed a high degree of compatibility with the manual analysis method, except for SN, SNA, Gonial angle, Articular angle, U1-NA distance and nasolabial angle measurements. Due to the higher correlation between OneCeph and the manual method, it can be concluded that the OneCeph application is the best alternative to the manual method.