Topic Editors

Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, School of Dental Medicine, University of Bern, CH-3010 Bern, Switzerland
Prof. Dr. Carlalberta Verna
Department of Pediatric Oral Health and Orthodontics, University Center for Dental Medicine Basel UZB, University of Basel, Hebelstrasse 3, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland

Assessment of Craniofacial Morphology: Traditional Methods and Innovative Approaches

Abstract submission deadline
20 March 2025
Manuscript submission deadline
20 June 2025
Viewed by
4552

Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Topic is a continuation of the previous successful Topic “Diagnosis of Craniofacial Changes: Conventional Approaches and Novel Methodologies”.

The accurate assessment of craniofacial morphology is essential across multiple disciplines to ensure proper diagnosis, treatment planning, and outcome evaluation. Variations and structural changes within and between individuals can be attributed to genetic effects, physiological processes like growth, development, and aging, as well as pathological conditions and medical interventions. In addition to facilitating correct diagnosis and documentation, which serve both medical and legal purposes, accurate patient representations at different time points also impact the ability to track morphological changes. It's important to recognize that even sequential craniofacial images, acquired within a brief timeframe and under identical conditions, may exhibit variations related to the imaging technique or the subject itself. The challenge of reliably assessing craniofacial morphology and associated changes over extended periods is even more daunting.

The craniofacial region is of utmost importance for human life, highly impacting both function and aesthetics. As a result, the accurate assessment of craniofacial morphology is fundamental, and various approaches have been developed to address this need. Traditional methods primarily revolve around two-dimensional imaging, while three-dimensional (and four-dimensional) imaging is increasingly becoming an indispensable component of both daily clinical practice and cutting-edge research. The upcoming article collection will feature literature reviews and original studies focusing on the development and application of imaging modalities and analysis methodologies for the assessment of craniofacial morphology.

Dr. Nikolaos Gkantidis
Prof. Dr. Carlalberta Verna
Topic Editors

Keywords

  • craniofacial imaging
  • radiography
  • facial photography
  • anthropometry
  • craniofacial morphology
  • cephalometrics
  • computed tomography
  • stereophotogrammetry
  • superimposition
  • geometric morphometrics
  • finite element analysis
  • machine learning
  • artificial intelligence

Participating Journals

Journal Name Impact Factor CiteScore Launched Year First Decision (median) APC
Biology
biology
3.6 5.7 2012 16.1 Days CHF 2700 Submit
Journal of Clinical Medicine
jcm
3.0 5.7 2012 17.3 Days CHF 2600 Submit
Diagnostics
diagnostics
3.0 4.7 2011 20.5 Days CHF 2600 Submit
Dentistry Journal
dentistry
2.5 3.7 2013 26 Days CHF 2000 Submit

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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10 pages, 1991 KiB  
Article
Factors Related to Bracket Bond Failure during Orthodontic Treatment: A Single-Centre Single-Operator Study
by Olivier Quinty, Gregory S. Antonarakis, Stavros Kiliaridis and Anestis Mavropoulos
Dent. J. 2024, 12(10), 300; https://doi.org/10.3390/dj12100300 - 24 Sep 2024
Viewed by 599
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the influence of various patient-specific and bracket location-specific factors on bracket survival rates during comprehensive fixed appliance orthodontic treatment. A total of 197 patients (116 females, 81 males; mean age 16.3 years) having completed orthodontic treatment were included [...] Read more.
This study aimed to investigate the influence of various patient-specific and bracket location-specific factors on bracket survival rates during comprehensive fixed appliance orthodontic treatment. A total of 197 patients (116 females, 81 males; mean age 16.3 years) having completed orthodontic treatment were included in this retrospective cohort study. Patients were treated using stainless steel non-self-ligating brackets, and the treatment duration was 23.7 months on average. The primary outcome was bracket bond failure. Potential predictors for bracket bond failure recorded included age, sex, oral hygiene, treatment duration, and several pre-treatment cephalometric characteristics such as overjet, overbite, and sagittal and vertical skeletal relationships. Factors associated with bracket failure were analysed with Cox regression, and proportional hazard assumptions were assessed using Kaplan–Meier tests. The overall failure rate was 4.4%. Bracket bond failure rates varied among tooth types and seemed to occur more on posterior teeth and on the right side of the arch. Bracket failure was more common in male patients and those with poor oral hygiene. Concerning dentofacial characteristics, bracket failure of anterior teeth was more common in those with an increased overjet and overbite. Full article
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25 pages, 4587 KiB  
Review
Volumetric Analyses of Dysmorphic Maxillofacial Structures Using 3D Surface-Based Approaches: A Scoping Review
by Annalisa Cappella, Francesca Gaffuri, Josh Yang, Francesco Carlo Tartaglia, Riccardo Solazzo, Francesco Inchingolo, Gianluca Martino Tartaglia and Chiarella Sforza
J. Clin. Med. 2024, 13(16), 4740; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13164740 - 12 Aug 2024
Viewed by 736
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Three-dimensional (3D) analysis of maxillofacial structures in dysmorphic patients offers clinical advantages over 2D analysis due to its high accuracy and precision in measuring many morphological parameters. Currently, no reliable gold standard exists for calculating 3D volumetric measurements of maxillofacial structures [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Three-dimensional (3D) analysis of maxillofacial structures in dysmorphic patients offers clinical advantages over 2D analysis due to its high accuracy and precision in measuring many morphological parameters. Currently, no reliable gold standard exists for calculating 3D volumetric measurements of maxillofacial structures when captured by 3D surface imaging techniques. The aim of this scoping review is to provide an overview of the scientific literature related to 3D surface imaging methods used for volumetric analysis of the dysmorphic maxillofacial structures of patients affected by CL/P or other syndromes and to provide an update on the existing protocols, methods, and, when available, reference data. Methods: A total of 17 papers selected according to strict inclusion and exclusion criteria were reviewed for the qualitative analysis out of more than 4500 articles published between 2002 and 2024 that were retrieved from the main electronic scientific databases according to the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. A qualitative synthesis of the protocols used for the selection of the anatomical areas of interest and details on the methods used for the calculation of their volume was completed. Results: The results suggest a great degree of heterogeneity between the reviewed studies in all the aspects analysed (patient population, anatomical structure, area selection, and volume calculation), which prevents any chance of direct comparison between the reported volumetric data. Conclusions: Our qualitative analysis revealed dissimilarities in the procedures specified in the studies, highlighting the need to develop uniform methods and protocols and the need for comparative studies to verify the validity of methods in order to achieve high levels of scientific evidence, homogeneity of volumetric data, and clinical consensus on the methods to use for 3D volumetric surface-based analysis. Full article
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15 pages, 853 KiB  
Review
The Evolution of Custom Subperiosteal Implants for Treatment of Partial or Complete Edentulism in Patients with Severe Alveolar Ridge Atrophy
by Jan Łoginoff, Agata Majos and Marcin Elgalal
J. Clin. Med. 2024, 13(12), 3582; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13123582 - 19 Jun 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1532
Abstract
Dental implants have always played an important role in dentistry and have been used to replace missing teeth since around 600 AD. They can be classified into three groups: endosteal, subperiosteal, and transosteal. Over time, different materials have been used to manufacture dental [...] Read more.
Dental implants have always played an important role in dentistry and have been used to replace missing teeth since around 600 AD. They can be classified into three groups: endosteal, subperiosteal, and transosteal. Over time, different materials have been used to manufacture dental implants and these, in turn, can be divided into three groups: metals, ceramics, and polymers. Today, the most commonly used treatment for edentulism is the use of endosteal implants. However, such an approach cannot be used in patients with severe alveolar ridge atrophy and, in such cases, custom subperiosteal implants are an alternative. This review article focuses on historical developments and improvements that have been made over recent years in treatment options for patients suffering from edentulism and significant resorption of the alveolar ridge. These treatment options involve the utilization of custom subperiosteal implants. This paper looks at the historical evolution of these implants, the significance of diagnostic imaging, and the application of the contemporary methods of production, such as CAD-CAM and additive manufacturing. The research emphasizes the importance of accuracy and personalization provided by these emerging technologies that have rendered subperiosteal implants a more feasible and less intrusive alternative for patients suffering from significant bone loss. Full article
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14 pages, 2486 KiB  
Article
Effects of Occlusal Contact on Maxillary Alveolar Bone Morphology in Patients with and without Anterior Open Bite: A Cross-Sectional Study
by Chiyo Shimizu-Tomoda, Yuji Ishida, Aiko Ishizaki-Terauchi, Yukari Mizoguchi, Shuji Oishi and Takashi Ono
J. Clin. Med. 2024, 13(11), 3061; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13113061 - 23 May 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 819
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Anterior open bite (AOB) is characterized by the absence of occlusal contact between the maxillary and mandibular anterior teeth, while the posterior teeth are in contact when occluded. Here, we aimed to clarify the difference in maxillary alveolar bone morphology in adult [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Anterior open bite (AOB) is characterized by the absence of occlusal contact between the maxillary and mandibular anterior teeth, while the posterior teeth are in contact when occluded. Here, we aimed to clarify the difference in maxillary alveolar bone morphology in adult patients with and without AOB. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 50 adults aged 18–39 years: 25 patients without AOB (control group; 13 males and 12 females; age: mean ± standard deviation [SD], 22.2 ± 4.5 years) and 25 patients with AOB (9 males and 16 females; age: 24.2 ± 6.4 years). Using cone-beam computed tomography images, the height of the maxillary alveolar bone crest in the anterior and posterior teeth and thickness of the alveolar cortical bone on the labial and palatal sides were measured and compared between the two groups. An independent t-test and Pearson’s correlation analysis were used to examine statistical significance (p < 0.05). Results: The AOB group showed a significantly longer (p = 0.016) posterior alveolar crest and thinner cortical bone on the buccal (p < 0.001) and lingual (p = 0.009) sides of the anterior region and the buccal (p = 0.006) sides of the posterior region than the control group did. Moreover, a significant negative correlation (p = 0.046; r = −0.403) was observed between bite force and cortical bone thickness on the buccal side of the posterior region in the AOB group. Conclusions: It is suggested that the absence of occlusal contact in the anterior area influences the alveolar bone morphology of the maxilla. Full article
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