Orthodontics LO1 (facial characteristics and profiles)

Dolichocephalic, mesocephalic, and brachycephalic

Depending on the shape of the skull, the facial type can be:

Mesocephalic head form

This head form is a proportionate, normal head.

Dolichocephalic head form

For this head form, the face is narrow, long, and protrusive.

Brachycephalic head form

For this head form, the face is more broad, but somewhat less protrusive.

"Brachy"

This prefix means that the head tends to grow horizontally

"Dolicho"

This prefix means the head tends to grow vertically.

Dolichocephalic

This head form includes: a retrusively placed mandible and lower. Retrognathic facial profile. Maxillary arch and palate is longer, narrower, and deeper.

Brachycephalic

This head form includes: lower jaw tends to be more protrusive. An orthognathic or prognathic profile. More prominent chin. Maxillary arch and palate is shorter and more shallow.

"Straight" or "orthognathic"

A mesognathic profile means that the maxilla and mandible are at the same level in the anteroposterior (sagital) sense. This is considered a normal profile and we can find it in class I and class II div 1 malocclusions. A mesognathic profiles is sometimes called ————— or ————————.

Convex

A retrognathic profile means that the maxilla protrudes more than the mandible. It's typical of class II div 1 malocclusion. This is also sometimes referred to as:

Concave

A prognathic profile means that the mandible protrudes more than the maxilla. Typical of class III malocclusion. This is sometimes referred to as:

Lip incompetence

an open mouth, with lips apart, at the resting posture. Also called "mentalis strain"

Esthetic plane

This is described by Ricketts. Trace a line between the tip of the nose and the tip of the chin. In aesthetically ideal clients, the lips should be behind this plane, with the lower lip closer to it than the upper lip.

Lip suction

What lip position? Lower lip contacts with the tongue behind the upper incisors; in large overjet and atypical swallowing pattern.