Introduction: It has been settled that the three-dimensional position of the mandible is directly affected by the head posture. Consequently, improper mandibular posture can cause teeth damage, along with a range of temporomandibular functional disorders altering both muscles and joints. This study is dedicated to shed light on the influence of the horizontal cephalic rotation on the mandibular deviation with reference to the three-dimensional positions of the incisal point.
Materials and methods: In order to evaluate the movement of the mandibular, a specific handmade device was created based on a facial arch and a tooth bite fork stabilized thanks to a mandibular impression. The subjects were asked to sit straight with their heads supported by the properly adjusted headrest of the dental chair which has been previously set in an upright position. The patients were then enjoined to horizontally perform a sequence of head rotation movements (0°: The reference angle, 10°, 20°, 30° and 60°) in the right or left direction.
Results: The results revealed the correlation between the horizontal rotation of the head and the deviation of the incisal point which simultaneously moves in the forward direction and in the opposite direction of the cephalic rotation. For instance, a significant incisal point deviation is mainly observed when angles exceed 20°. No significant differences by gender, morphological type and orthodontic history were observed.
Conclusion: The mandibular position varies according to the cephalic horizontal rotations mainly with over 20° angles. Therefore, it is crucial for dental practitioners to take into account the possibility of mandibular deviation during occlusal procedures within different dental specialties.
Published Date: 2024-10-29; Received Date: 2024-08-29
