Mandibular growth direction prediction using symphysis morphology

To determine whether the morphology of symphysis could be used as a predictor of the direction of mandibular growth in Indian population and to determine if any gender variability exists in the aforementioned study. Randomly chosen and traced lateral cephalograms of 30 adult patients (18 years and older), 15 males and 15 females, reporting to the Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics, Inderprastha Dental College and Hospital, Sahibabad, Ghaziabad (U.P). Seven cephalometric parameters and four symphyseal parameters (Height of Symphysis, Depth of Symphysis, andSymphysis Ratio, Symphysis Angle) were measured.The data was subjected to pearson’s correlation test to find any correlation between symphysis morphology and cephalometric parameters in male, female and overall group.Increase in depth and height of symphysis is associated with horizontal growth pattern in overall sample. Increase in height and symphyseal ratio is associated with horizontal growth pattern in males. In females symphyseal parameters fail to predict the direction of mandibular growth.