Three-dimensional dental analysis in subjects with skeletal malocclusion: a retrospective observational study

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between skeletal class and dental dimensions analyzed through linear, surface area, and volumetric measurements. Methods: The sample consisted of 90 patients with an average age of 18 years (44 > x > 12). The following tests were used to investigate any correlation between skeletal class and tooth size: Hoeffding’s test, Cramér’s V test, and analysis of variance (ANOVA), followed by Tukey’s post hoc HSD test and the logit model. The significance level was set at 0.050. Results: Cramér’s V test indicated a weak association between skeletal class (I, II, III) and total Bolton index (V = 0.167, p < 0.01). The ANOVA results showed that the total inferior volume and the anterior inferior volume were significantly greater (p = 0.012; p = 0.012) in skeletal class III (p = 0.012) than in the other two skeletal classes. The total upper surface area was significantly greater in patients with skeletal class III compared to those with classes II and I (p = 0.029). The anterior superior surface area was significantly greater in skeletal class III than in class II and I (p = 0.028). From the results of the logit analysis, it is possible to state that the third model is able to explain greater variability (21%) in terms of the distribution of results for the variables considered than the first (20%) and the second (14%). Conclusions: Class III skeletal malocclusions are characterized by increased tooth surface and volumetric dimensions compared to class I and class II.