Relationship between extended head posture and malocclusion

Aim: To evaluate effects of extended head posture on dental and skeletal malocclusions. Materials and Methods: Lateral cephalograms and study models of 60 patients were divided into two groups, group I [n=30 with extended head posture (NSL-CVT angle > 106)] and group II [n=30 without extended head posture (NSL-CVT angle less than 106)]. Variables which are important were studied and compared. Results: Patients in group I showed significantly more class II skeletal relationship with increased proclination in upper and lower anteriors than that in group II. Subjects in group I showed more vertical growth pattern, with increased overjet and overbite than that in group II. Also, significantly more number subjects in group I showed crowding than that in group II. Conclusion: Patients with extended head posture showed class II skeletal malocclusion and a vertical growth pattern as compared to patients with normal head posture. There was statistically significant correlation of crowding with extended head posture as compared to that in patients with normal head posture. Overjet and overbite was found to be significantly more in patients with extended head posture as compared to that in patients with normal head posture. Upper and lower incisal proclination was also found to be significantly more in patients with extended head posture as compared to that in patients with normal head posture.