THE FREQUENCY OF SELLA TURCICA BRIDGING INORTHODONTIC PATIENTS AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITHSAGITTAL AND VERTICAL MALOCCLUSION GROUPS

Abstract

Sella Turcica is an important structure of the middle cranial fossa and can easily be seen on lateral cephalometric radiographic. In orthodontics, sella point is commonly used to measure the positions of maxilla and mandible in relation to the cranium. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of sella turcica bridging in orthodontic patients and find its association with different sagittal and vertical malocclusion groups. A total of 316 patients (98 males, 218 females) who belonged to different malocclusion groups were included in this study. Lateral cephalograms of these patients were analyzed for the presence of sella turcica bridging. Out of 316 subjects, 5 patients (1.6%) were found to have complete sella turcica bridging. Partial bridging was found in 142 cases (44.9 %) while the remaining 169 patients had no bridging. A comparison of sella turcica bridging among the sagittal and vertical malocclusion groups was not significant. No significant difference was found in frequency of sella bridging between males and females. The linear dimensions of sella turcica were also compared among the groups. A statistically significant difference was found in the antero-posterior diameter of the sella turcica among the three sagittal. However, the difference in vertical groups was not significant. Class II malocclusion had the smallest linear dimensions than other groups while in vertical group, hypodivergent malocclusion had the smallest dimensions as compared to other groups. No significant association was found between sella turcica bridging and vertical and sagittal malocclusion groups.