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. 2020 Dec 2;15(12):e0242717.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0242717. eCollection 2020.

Effects of unilateral posterior missing-teeth on the temporomandibular joint and the alignment of cervical atlas

Tsun-Hung Fang  1 , Meng-Ta Chiang  1   2 , Ming-Chun Hsieh  1 , Ling-Yu Kung  1 , Kuo-Chou Chiu  1   2
Affiliations

Effects of unilateral posterior missing-teeth on the temporomandibular joint and the alignment of cervical atlas

Tsun-Hung Fang et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Cervical atlas alignment changes are associated with craniofacial development. Disturbance of craniofacial development may be associated with temporal mandibular joint function. Therefore, we examined the possibility of a correlation between unilateral missing teeth and morphologic changes of the spine and posture. We collected eighty-nine patients (38 men and 51 women) with unilateral posterior missing teeth and twenty patients without previous orthodontic treatment or missing posterior teeth by tracing and analyzing their panoramic and cephalometric film. We measured the angulations of articular eminence, cranio-cervical angle, and the percentage of the occlusal plane passing through the first and second cervical vertebrae with other morphologic geometric data. The angle of articular eminence inclination was higher in the non-missing teeth group than the missing teeth group (46.66° and 42.28°, respectively). The cranio-cervical angle was smaller in the missing posterior teeth group than the non-missing posterior teeth group (99.81° and 103.27°, respectively). The missing teeth group also showed fewer occlusal planes passing through the intersection of the first and second cervical vertebrae compared to the non-missing teeth group (28.9% and 65%, respectively). Individuals with unilateral missing teeth had lower articular eminence inclination, smaller cranio-cervical angle, and a lower percentage of the occlusal plane passing through the intersection of the first and second cervical vertebrae.

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Conflict of interest statement

NO authors have competing interests.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Panoramic radiograph tracing.
Panoramic radiograph of the patient showing the trace of the angle of sagittal condylar guidance.
Fig 2
Fig 2. Cephalometric radiograph tracing.
Cephalometric radiograph of the patient showing the trace of the cranio-cervical angles, the extension line of the upper occlusal plane, and the cross point of the atlas and the second cervical vertebra.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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