Cephalometric characteristics of the craniocervical posture of 6-11-years-old children with skeletal Class I, II and III

Objectives: To describe characteristics of the craniocervical posture in children between 6-11 years old with skeletal malocclusion class I, II and III.
Methods: A descriptive transverse study was made; the sample, selected by convenience, consisted of 107 children (55 girls - 52 boys) with a mean age of 8.5 ± 1.5 without orthodontic treatment and / or orthopedics and general good health. Radiograph were taken in natural head posture. Observed variables were gender, age, ANB angle, lordosis, hyoid triangle, craniocervical angle (ACC), intervertebral spaces C0-C1, C1-C2, NSL-Ver, NL-Ver, ML-Ver, OPT-Hor, CVT -Hor. The data were analysed with Anova test one-way and T student. P values ​​< 0.05 were considered statistically significant.
Results: Class I was the most prevalent malocclusion (54.2%), followed by class II (40.2%) and class III (5.6%). Lordosis, ACC, C1-C2, OPT-Hor and CVT-Hor, was higher in men (P<0.05). Although no statistically significant differences were found relating posture variables with age and malocclusion, it was observed that Class III children had a tendency to have an ACC and intervertebral spaces increased (craniocervical flexion); 66.3% of the total sample presented a rectified lordotic curvature with a positive hyoid triangle; this triangle was more descendent in class II children, and also presented a craneovertical increased angulation (NSL-Ver, NL-Ver and ML-Ver). Class I children had the lowest values ​​of OPT-Hor, CVT-Hor.
Conclusions: All craniocervical posture variables were higher in men. No relationship between craniocervical posture and skeletal relations sagittal was found in this study.