Frequency and type of ponticulus posticus in a longitudinal sample of non-orthodontically treated subjects: relationship with gender, age, skeletal maturity, and skeletal malocclusion.

Publication date: Available online 9 May 2018
Source:Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology and Oral Radiology
Author(s): Antonino Lo Giudice, Gianluigi Caccianiga, Salvatore Crimi, Costanza Cavallini, Rosalia Leonardi
Objectives. To assess the frequency and type of ponticulus posticus (PP) and to evaluate its relationship with gender, chronological age, skeletal maturity, and skeletal malocclusion. Study Design. The sample included longitudinal lateral cephalograms of 734 subjects (378 males and 356 females) retrieved from the American Association of Orthodontists Craniofacial Growth Legacy Collection. The presence of PP (complete and partial forms) was assessed by visual inspection and the cervical maturation method (CVM) was used to determine the skeletal maturation stage. The presence and type (complete or partial) of PP were assessed by gender, age at first appearance of PP, skeletal maturation stage as determined by the cervical maturation method (CVM), and skeletal malocclusion. Results. The overall prevalence of PP was 12.6% (93/734) with complete and partial forms observed respectively in 8.7% (64/734) and 3.9% (29/734) of the sample. Both forms of PP occurred mainly in the age range between 7-13 years old (p=0.04). No differences were found between gender, skeletal maturity stages, or skeletal malocclusion groups (p > 0.05). However, approximately 90% of PP occurred before and after the circumpubertal stage. Conclusion. PP should be expected mainly during childhood and pubertal age. This may support the theory of a genetic cause of this vertebral anomaly.



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