Relationship of The Skeletal Components

The arches are just one part of the overall skeletal structure. Let's look at how skeletal problems are a cause of malocclusion.

The craniofacial area is the most complex part of the skeleton.

For the purposes of this overview, we're going to simplify it into five key regions:

What is cephalogram/cephalometric analysis?

The cephalometric analysis measures the relationship between the regions of a patient's skull and teeth and compares them to population norms. 

Key bone sutures and growth sites determine how these regions relate to each other. When these regions don't develop proportionally to each other, skeletal problems occur.

Vertical Relationships: Disproportionate growth in the vertical dimension can also cause problems. Hover over each skull image to learn more about vertical relationships.

It's important to identify whether skeletal issues play a role in your patients' malocclusion so you can set expectations accurately. In cases like these, you may be able to make cosmetic improvements with clear aligners alone but achieving perfect occlusion is likely to require more advanced techniques such as growth modification or jaw surgery.