Non-Cochrane · aetiology · PM42348990
Cranial Base Characteristics in Growing Patients With Class III Skeletal Pattern: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Li Zhuoying, Liu Junqi, Wei Tingting, et al. · International dental journal · 2026 · PubMed · doi:10.1016/j.identj.2026.109707
Findings
Population Growing patients (under 19 years) with skeletal Class III malocclusion
13 findings
| Skeletal Class III malocclusion (exposure) | Skeletal Class I malocclusion | NSAr angle (degrees) | MD -2.02 [-3.26, -0.78] Very low Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, inconsistency 3 studies · 374 participants |
| Skeletal Class III malocclusion (exposure) | Skeletal Class I malocclusion | SN length (mm) Growth stage: before or during the growth spurt | MD -1.59 [-2.69, -0.50] GRADE not reported Studies not reported |
| Skeletal Class III malocclusion (exposure) | Skeletal Class I malocclusion | SN length (mm) | MD -0.94 [-2.27, 0.38] Very low Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, inconsistency 3 studies · 224 participants |
| Skeletal Class III malocclusion (exposure) | Skeletal Class I malocclusion | SBa length (mm) | MD -0.81 [-2.03, 0.40] Very low Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, inconsistency 3 studies · 289 participants |
| Skeletal Class III malocclusion (exposure) | Skeletal Class I malocclusion | Sella turcica length (mm) | MD 0.14 [-0.45, 0.73] Very low Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, inconsistency 2 studies · 104 participants |
| Skeletal Class III malocclusion (exposure) | Skeletal Class I malocclusion | Sella turcica depth (mm) | MD 0.50 [-0.09, 1.09] Very low Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, inconsistency 2 studies · 104 participants |
| Skeletal Class III malocclusion (exposure) | Skeletal Class I malocclusion | SN length (mm) Sensitivity: re-including the Kucukkaraca 2023 data excluded from the primary analysis | MD -1.12 [-2.11, -0.12] GRADE not reported 3 studies |
| Skeletal Class III malocclusion (exposure) | Skeletal Class I malocclusion | NSBa angle (degrees) | MD -1.84 [-2.80, -0.89] Very low Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, inconsistency 5 studies · 481 participants |
| Skeletal Class III malocclusion (exposure) | Skeletal Class I malocclusion | NSAr angle (degrees) Sensitivity: re-including the Kucukkaraca 2023 data excluded from the primary analysis | MD -2.43 [-3.71, -1.15] GRADE not reported 3 studies |
| Skeletal Class III malocclusion (exposure) | Skeletal Class I malocclusion | NSBa angle (degrees) Sensitivity: excluding Fournier et al. 2016 (outlier SD) | MD -1.87 [-2.89, -0.85] GRADE not reported 4 studies |
| Skeletal Class III malocclusion (exposure) | Skeletal Class I malocclusion | SN length (mm) Gender: males | MD -1.68 [-3.11, -0.25] GRADE not reported Studies not reported |
| Skeletal Class III malocclusion (exposure) | Skeletal Class I malocclusion | Non-normal (abnormal) sella turcica morphology | OR 2.73 [0.56, 13.22] 244 [-131, 488] more per 1000 Very low Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, inconsistency 2 studies · 204 participants |
| Skeletal Class III malocclusion (exposure) | Skeletal Class I malocclusion | SBa length (mm) Growth stage: before or during the growth spurt | MD -1.56 [-2.88, -0.24] GRADE not reported Studies not reported |
Included primary studies 12
Open in Studies| Study | Year | Also included by | Outcomes it informs here | Trial data |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Afzal 2019 Association Between Variations In Sella Turcica Dimensions And Morphology And Skeletal Malocclusions. PMID:31094110 | 2019 | this review only | Sella turcica length (mm); Sella turcica depth (mm); Non-normal (abnormal) sella turcica morphology | not extracted yet |
| Baccetti 1997 Glenoid fossa position in different facial types: a cephalometric study. PMID:9088604 | 1997 | this review only | not stated | not extracted yet |
| Fournier 2016 Relationship between cranial mechanics and dysmorphic dentofacial characteristics: a cross-sectional study. PMID:25390737 | 2016 | this review only | NSBa angle (degrees) | not extracted yet |
| Haavikko 1989 Age and skeletal type-related changes of some cephalometric parameters in Finnish girls. PMID:2792217 | 1989 | this review only | NSBa angle (degrees); NSAr angle (degrees) | not extracted yet |
| Innocenti 2009 Glenoid fossa position in Class III malocclusion associated with mandibular protrusion. PMID:19361728 | 2009 | this review only | not stated | not extracted yet |
| Kucukkaraca 2023 Craniofacial Growth Differences in Individuals with Skeletal Class III and Class I During Different Growth Periods DOI:10.5152/crds.2023.23257 | 2023 | this review only | NSBa angle (degrees); NSAr angle (degrees); SN length (mm); SBa length (mm) | not extracted yet |
| Ozsoy 2007 Changes in cranial base morphology in different malocclusions. PMID:17973688 | 2007 | this review only | NSBa angle (degrees); NSAr angle (degrees); SN length (mm); SBa length (mm) | not extracted yet |
| Patil 2022 Sella turcica anomalies and its association with malocclusion – a lateral cephalometric study DOI:10.52083/qnqo7715 | 2022 | this review only | Non-normal (abnormal) sella turcica morphology | not extracted yet |
| Tepedino 2019 Morphometric analysis of sella turcica in growing patients: an observational study on shape and dimensions in different sagittal… DOI:10.1038/s41598-019-55916-y | 2019 | this review only | Sella turcica length (mm); Sella turcica depth (mm) | not extracted yet |
| Tepedino 2019 Morphometric analysis of sella turcica in growing patients: an observational study on shape and dimensions in different sagittal… PMID:31848435 | 2019 | this review only | not stated | not extracted yet |
| Thiesen 2013 Comparative analysis of the anterior and posterior length and deflection angle of the cranial base, in individuals with facial Pattern I,… PMID:23876952 | 2013 | this review only | NSBa angle (degrees); SN length (mm); SBa length (mm) | not extracted yet |
| Yang 2019 Time and pattern of the fusion of the spheno-occipital synchondrosis in patients with skeletal Class I and Class III malocclusion. PMID:30516418 | 2019 | this review only | not stated | not extracted yet |
Review question
| Element | Planned (methods) | Found (results) |
|---|---|---|
| Population | Non-syndromic growing participants under 19 years with skeletal Class III malocclusion | Growing patients, 6 to 19 years, predominantly Caucasian (n=60 to 262 per study) |
| Intervention | Exposure: skeletal Class III malocclusion diagnosed with recognized skeletal criteria | Skeletal Class III malocclusion (ANB or Wits based diagnosis) |
| Comparison | Skeletal Class I malocclusion | Skeletal Class I malocclusion |
| Outcomes | Radiographic cranial base dimension and density (primary); sella turcica, sphenoid sinus, glenoid fossa and spheno-occipital synchondrosis (secondary) | NSBa and NSAr angles, SN and SBa lengths, sella turcica length, depth and shape (meta-analysed); cranial base inclination, glenoid fossa position, SOS fusion (narrative) |
| Study designs | Observational studies | 11 cross-sectional/observational studies (8 meta-analysed); lateral cephalograms (one CBCT) |
| Timing | Not specified | Cross-sectional |