Effect of Estrogen on Craniofacial Dimensions

Objectives: Sex hormones have an effect on bone metabolism. However, it remains unclear how estrogen hormone affect mandible and maxilla growth and development. The aim of this study was to perform a systematic review to evaluate if estrogen is associated with developmental alterations in the maxilla/mandible phenotype.
Methods: A computer search of the literature was performed using: Pubmed Medline (1966 – October 2016), Google Scholar and manual searching. A combination of the terms ‘estrogens', ‘mandible’, ‘dental arch’, ‘maxilla’, ‘craniofacial’, ‘growth’ and ‘development’ was used. Studies that used animal models to evaluate the role of estrogen during growth and development on the dimensions of the maxilla and/or mandible were included. The information regarding animal model, design experiment and the effect on the maxilla/mandible dimensions were extracted of each study and pooled in a table.
Results: After an evaluation of the full studies according to the eligibility criteria, 5 studies were selected to compose this systematic review. One study used zebrafish as a model. Two studies used female mice and 2 studies used female rats as a model. Two studies treated the animals with estrogen. One study treated the animals with ERα, ERβ, and the receptors antagonists. Two studies ovariectomized the animals in order to simulate an estrogen deficiency. Four studies demonstrated that estrogen has an effect on mandible dimension and 2 studies demonstrated that estrogen has an effect on maxilla. One study did find an association between estrogen deficiency and mandible/maxilla dimensions.
Conclusions: The current evidence suggested that both, increased and decreased levels of estrogen, have an effect on the maxilla and mandible dimensions.