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DOI: 10.1055/s-0045-1809366
Associations between Sagittal, Transversal, and Vertical Planes with Dental Anomalies in Pretreatment Orthodontic Patients of Kosovo
Abstract
Objective
The objective of this study was to compare the different types of malocclusions in the sagittal, transverse, and vertical planes and to assess their association with dental anomalies such as hypodontia, ectopic eruption, and anterior and posterior crossbite.
Materials and Methods
The sample population was selected from orthodontic specialty clinics in Pristina, Kosovo. The study was conducted by recruiting 617 patients; 377 (61%) were female and 240 (39%) were male. The following occlusal relationships (regarding Angle's classification) were assessed during the examination of study casts: molar and canine sagittal relationships and coincidence of incisal midlines. Malocclusion in the transverse plane, vertical plane, and anterior and posterior crowding in both jaws was examined.
Results
In the sagittal plane, the majority of both females (45.6%) and males (42.9%) belonged to class I. However, males had a higher proportion in class III (22.5) compared with females (16.4%). In the transversal plane, the upper midline was predominantly on the right side for both genders. For the lower midline, both genders showed almost a similar distribution. The vertical plane analysis indicated that deep bite is more common in males (31.7%) than females (30.2%). In contrast, females had a slightly higher occurrence of open bite (15.9%) compared with males (11.7%). Regarding dental anomalies, hypodontia affected a higher percentage of males (13.8%) compared with females (12.2%).
Conclusion
In the sagittal plane, class I is common in both genders, while the males show higher class III prevalence. In the transversal plane, upper midline deviation to the right is slightly more frequent in females. Regarding vertical plane, deep bite is somewhat more prevalent in males, whereas open bite is more common in females.
Keywords
malocclusion - dental anomalies - crowding - crossbite - sagittal plane - transversal planeIntroduction
Malocclusions have negative effects on emotional and social well-being.[1] According to the World Health Organization, malocclusion is one of the most important oral health problems, after caries and periodontal disease. The prevalence range is extensive and heterogeneous.[2] There is a higher frequency of dental anomalies among orthodontic patients because some of the dental anomalies can play a role in the development of malocclusion. Impactions and supernumerary teeth are the main dental anomalies among the studied orthodontic patients.[3]
Malocclusion has a multifactorial etiology, being caused by hereditary factors, quality of life, environmental factors, or a combination of these factors.[2] [4] Genetically determined factors influence growth and can, therefore, lead to malocclusion. These influences can be combined with etiological factors such as thumb sucking. When the child interposes his thumb between the dental arches, it causes the tongue to move downwards. The tongue does not reach its correct position on the palate, preventing it from developing transversely.[2] Among the various classes of malocclusion, class II division 2 has displayed a significant association with dental anomalies.[5]
Despite the high frequency of dental anomalies among orthodontic patients, these factors are often unacknowledged in clinical orthodontic diagnosis and treatment planning. So to improve public oral health, it is vital to determine the association of malocclusion and dental anomalies and help pursue the orthodontic treatment.[6] [7] Understanding the comparisons and correlations of malocclusion with anomalies will provide ways for new research, treatment plans, and management of patients.[6]
Although several studies have examined the prevalence and classification of malocclusion, data are not sufficient. The comprehensive correlations of malocclusions with dental anomalies such as hypodontia, ectopic eruption, and crossbites were deficient. Moreover, very limited data are available on the prevalence of malocclusion and associated dental anomalies in the Kosovan population. To date, no study has evaluated the distribution of malocclusion types across all three spatial planes, while simultaneously assessing their association with common dental anomalies in orthodontic patients in Kosovo.
The correlations between the three classes of malocclusion and dental anomalies have not been investigated in the Kosovan population; hence, the aim of the current study was to correlate the existence of dental anomalies with different types of malocclusions as the occurrence of anomalies is common in malocclusion.
Materials and Methods
This retrospective cross-sectional study was performed among 617 patients distributed among two age groups: below and above 18 years visiting the orthodontic specialty clinics in Kosovo. Data for the study were taken from the pretreatment diagnostic records of patients from 2017 to 2023. The following inclusion criteria were incorporated: archived files, no significant medical and dental history, no extensive restorations that can hinder the identification of dental anomalies, no previous history of orthodontic treatment, Albanian patients from Kosovo, and complete dental files including history, examination, orthopantomogram, and photographs. The exclusion criteria were maxillofacial trauma, oral pathologies, and diagnosed syndromes. The following occlusal relationships (regarding Angle's classification) were assessed during the examination of study casts: molar and canine sagittal relationships and coincidence of incisal midlines. Angle's classification was considered, and the findings were categorized into class I, II, and III malocclusion groups. Patients' study models, dental files, and dental radiographs were investigated to identify the following dental anomalies: any congenitally missing teeth except third molars (hypodontia), impaction (tooth that remains unerupted after complete root development), ectopic eruption (tooth erupting in a different position than usual), and diastema (space between maxillary central incisors). Moreover, malocclusion in the transverse plane (upper and lower midline, anterior and posterior crossbite), malocclusion in the vertical plane (a deep bite, an open bite), and anterior and posterior crowding in both jaws were also examined. One operator made all the investigations, and then they were rechecked by another orthodontic expert.
Data analysis was done by SPSS 16.0 software (SPSS Inc., Chicago, Illinois, United States). Descriptive statistics, along with frequency and prevalence, were performed. The chi-squared test was used to investigate whether the distribution of the patients with dental anomalies differed between the three classes of malocclusion. The level of significance for each comparison was calculated using the Bonferroni correction. The level of chi-squared test significance was set at p < 0.05.
Results
The results focus on the gender-based analysis and the associations of dental planes with specific dental conditions. [Table 1] shows the distribution of dental characteristics by gender reveals. The distribution of dental characteristics by gender and age shows that a higher percentage of individuals over 18 years old are present in both females (83.6%) and males (81.3%), compared with those 18 and younger (16.4% females, 18.8% males).
In the sagittal plane, the majority of both females (45.6%) and males (42.9%) belong to class I. However, males have a higher proportion of class III (22.5%) compared with females (16.4).
In the transversal plane, the upper midline is predominantly on the right side for both genders, with females (9.5%) showing a higher percentage than males (6.7%). For the lower midline, both genders show a similar distribution, but a slightly higher percentage of males (5%) compared with females (4.5%) have the left side alignment. Regarding anterior crossbite, both genders exhibit a majority without the condition (85.2% of females and 81.3% of males), but more males (18.8%) have anterior crossbite than females (14.9%). A similar trend is observed in posterior crossbite, where males (15.4%) exhibit a slightly higher frequency compared with females (17%).
The vertical plane analysis indicates that deep bite is more common in males (31.7%) than females (30.2%), though the difference is minimal. In contrast, females have a slightly higher occurrence of open bite (15.9%) compared with males (11.7%).
Regarding dental anomalies, hypodontia affects a higher percentage of males (13.8%) compared with females (12.2%). In contrast, the distribution of ectopic and impaction anomalies is fairly balanced between genders, with a slightly higher prevalence in females. Finally, for crowding, both males and females exhibit similar trends, with a higher percentage of females experiencing anterior crowding in both the lower (58.6%) and upper arches (55.2%).
In the sagittal plane and upper midline (transversal plane), the distribution of upper midline alignment (right vs. left) across sagittal classes shows no significant association (Pearson's chi-square = 3.252, p-value = 0.197). While class I predominates in both the right (17) and left (14) midline positions, class II and class III show varying distributions, but none of these differences are statistically significant, as shown in [Table 2].
Note: The level of chi-squared test significance was set at p < 0.05.
In the sagittal plane and lower midline (transversal plane), the lower midline alignment also reveals no significant association with the sagittal plane (Pearson's chi-square = 2.833, p-value = 0.243). Similar to the upper midline, class I and class II tend to be more balanced between right and left, with class III showing the least occurrence in both positions, as shown in [Table 2].
In the sagittal plane and anterior crossbite (transversal plane), significant association is observed between the sagittal plane and anterior crossbite (Pearson's chi-square = 358.818, p-value = 0.001). Class I has the highest occurrence of no anterior crossbite (266 cases), while class III shows a substantial shift, with 87 cases of anterior crossbite compared with only 29 cases without.
In the sagittal plane and posterior crossbite (transversal plane), a similar significant association is seen between the sagittal plane and posterior crossbite (Pearson's chi-square = 16.569, p-value = 0.001). The data presented in [Table 2] indicates that class I and class II have a higher percentage of no posterior crossbite, while class III has a greater percentage of posterior crossbite.
In vertical plane, significant association is found between the sagittal plane and deep bite (Pearson's chi-square = 147.523, p-value = 0.001). Class I malocclusion shows the highest frequency of no deep bite (225 cases), while class II also shows a substantial number of patients with deep bite (135 cases), and class III shows the least prevalence of deep bite (5 cases). [Table 3] indicates a clear correlation between class II malocclusion and the presence of deep bite, with class III showing the least occurrence. In vertical plane, the association between the sagittal plane and open bite is not statistically significant (Pearson's chi-square = 4.812, p-value = 0.090).
[Table 4] shows that the association between the sagittal plane and hypodontia is not statistically significant (Pearson's chi-square = 0.330, p-value = 0.848). While the association between the sagittal plane and ectopic is marginally not significant (Pearson's chi-square = 4.261, p-value = 0.119), there is a noticeable trend where class I shows the highest frequency of ectopic eruptions (74 right-sided and 201 left-sided cases), followed by class II and class III.
The association between the sagittal plane and impaction is also not statistically significant (Pearson's chi-square = 1.118, p-value = 0.572). The distribution of impaction in the sagittal classifications appears somewhat similar, with no distinct trend emerging across the groups as shown in [Table 4].
[Table 5] shows that the association between the sagittal plane and anterior crowding in the upper arch is statistically significant (Pearson's chi-square = 14.731, p-value = 0.001). Class I again shows the highest proportion of individuals with crowding (162 yes, 113 no), followed by class II (135 yes, 91 no) and class III (46 yes, 70 no). The significant p-value suggests that anterior crowding in the upper arch is strongly associated with the sagittal plane, with class I individuals being most affected.
[Table 6] shows that the association between the sagittal plane and posterior crowding in the lower arch is not statistically significant (Pearson's chi-square = 0.264, p-value = 0.876). The distribution of individuals with posterior crowding in the lower arch is similar across the sagittal classifications, with class I showing 41 yes and 234 no, class II with 37 yes and 189 no, and class III with 17 yes and 99 no.
Discussion
Extensive research on the prevalence and association of dental anomalies has been performed, but a specific focus on gender and age-based analysis and the relationship of dental planes with specific conditions remains limited. This study focuses on estimating how gender and age influence the distribution and correlation of dental characteristics across sagittal, transversal, and vertical planes. Gender-based comparative studies were included to understand biological differences, such as genetic and hormonal influences, that affect males and females differently.
Our findings demonstrated that there are some gender differences across various dental characteristics. The variations are mostly modest, with females showing slightly higher prevalence in anterior crowding, while males have higher occurrences of posterior crowding and certain anomalies like hypodontia and anterior crossbite.
It was noted in this study that there are more females in the ≤ 18 age group, while the > 18 group has a higher total representation in both genders. A review was done by De Ridder et al,[8] in which the prevalence of malocclusion and different orthodontic features in children and adolescents was reviewed.
Gender-based hormonal differences influence dental anomalies, with male hormones like growth hormones and insulin-like growth factor-1 playing a significant role. These hormones are directly related to structural development. Female hormones like estrogen and progesterone primarily affect gingival and periodontal tissues. A latest study in 2023[9] found 33% of children with growth hormone deficiency developed dental anomalies. Our findings suggest that the prevalence of dental anomalies can vary by gender and population.
The prevalence of class I, II, and III malocclusions were 51.9, 23.8, and 6.5%, respectively, with the anterior crossbite rate at 7.8% and posterior crossbite rate at 9.0%. The prevalence of malocclusion and orthodontic features varies significantly across studies due to inconsistent methodologies. In another study, highest form of malocclusion was class I followed by class II subdivision.[10] In our study, ectopic eruption was the most common dental anomaly, which is opposite to the study conducted in India where rotated teeth was the most common dental anomaly in pretreatment orthodontic patients and another study in Iran where hypodontia was the most common dental anomaly.[11] [12]
In exploring the association of sagittal and transversal planes with dental conditions, our study found no significant associations for both upper and lower midlines. Class I malocclusion was predominant in both the right and left midline positions; however, classes II and III showed diverse distributions with no statistical significance. Contrarily, a significant correlation was seen between the sagittal plane and anterior crossbite with class III malocclusion particularly associated with anterior crossbite. Similarly, a significant association was seen between the sagittal plane and posterior crossbite, where class III malocclusion showed a higher prevalence of posterior crossbite. These findings align with the study of Iodice et al,[13] which reports associations between posterior crossbite and asymmetries in mandibular growth and muscle activity.
According to our current study there is a significant association between sagittal classifications and deep bite malocclusion. Class I malocclusion showing the highest frequency of no deep bite, class II exhibiting a substantial number of patients with deep bite, and class III showing the least prevalence of deep bite. However, the association between sagittal classifications and open bite was not statistically significant. This is similar to the previous study of Rasol et al,[14] who stated that class II malocclusion was significantly associated with deep bite, while association of class III malocclusion with deep bite was less frequent. Moreover, Brown et al[15] reported that open bite malocclusion was not significantly associated with sagittal classification, supporting our data that open bite is not greatly influenced by sagittal classification.
This study revealed that the dental anomalies of hypodontia, ectopic eruption, impaction, and diastema occur independently of sagittal malocclusion types, as no statistically significant associations were seen between sagittal classifications and the dental anomalies. These findings are consistent with existing literature presented by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry's guidelines, which indicate that dental anomalies like hypodontia and ectopic eruption may occur among different malocclusion types.[16] They contrast with the findings of the research by Selmani et al,[17] which suggested an association between third molars and anterior segment crowding.
No statistically significant relationship was observed between the sagittal plane and anterior crowding in the lower arch. While class I shows the highest number of individuals with crowding followed by class II and class III, the p-value indicates that these differences are not statistically significant, revealing contrasting associations. In contrast, the association between the sagittal plane and anterior crowding in the upper arch was statistically significant. Class I had the highest crowding followed by class II and class III. The findings reveal that the anterior crowding in the upper arch is strongly associated with the sagittal plane, particularly in class I cases. The study of Yuvashree et al[18] aligns with our study revealing class I malocclusion exhibit highest prevalence, class II noted to be moderate, and class III showed less severe crowding.
Our findings suggest a uniform distribution of posterior crowding across class I, II, and III malocclusions. Somewhat similar study was done by Crossley et al,[19] who concluded that the size of the mandibular apical base was not related to maxillary or mandibular crowding.
Conclusion
Our study concluded that in Kosovo's population the dental characteristics, including malocclusions and anomalies, are influenced by a combination of factors rather than solely sagittal classifications. There was a significant association between sagittal planes and conditions such as anterior crossbite, posterior crossbite, and deep bite; however, anomalies like hypodontia, ectopic eruption, and diastema occurred independently of sagittal classifications. Anterior crowding in the upper arch demonstrated a significant relationship with sagittal planes, particularly in class I malocclusions, but posterior crowding showed no such association.
Conflict of Interest
None declared.
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References
- 1 Dimberg L, Arnrup K, Bondemark L. The impact of malocclusion on the quality of life among children and adolescents: a systematic review of quantitative studies. Eur J Orthod 2015; 37 (03) 238-247
- 2 Cenzato N, Nobili A, Maspero C. Prevalence of dental malocclusions in different geographical areas: scoping review. Dent J (Basel) 2021; 9 (10) 117
- 3 AlHudaithi FS, AlDuhayan NA, AlJohani LN, AlJohani SN, AlQarni HS, AlSawadi MH. Prevalence of dental anomalies among orthodontic patients: a retrospective study in Saudi Arabia. Cureus 2023; 15 (12) e49893
- 4 Pan Y, Gui Z, Lyu J, Huang J. The prevalence of malocclusion and oral health-related quality of life among 12- and 15-year-old schoolchildren in Shanghai, China: a cross-sectional study. BMC Oral Health 2024; 24 (01) 1315
- 5 Mohammadi Shayan A, Behroozian A, Sadrhaghighi A, Moghaddam SF, Shahmorad Moghanlou A, Amanabi M. Prevalence of dental anomalies in different facial patterns and malocclusions in an Iranian population. J Oral Biol Craniofac Res 2022; 12 (05) 525-528
- 6 Selmani M, Bukleta MS. Prevalence of dental anomalies in various categories of malocclusion among orthodontic patients in the Kosovo region: a retrospective study. Eur J Gen Dent 2023; 12 (02) 103-108
- 7 Reyes-Mantilla V, Dias-Da Silveira HL, Dutra V, Arriola-Guillén LE. Comparison of mesiodistal angulations of premolars and molars in anterior open bite subjects with different sagittal malocclusions: a retrospective study. Int Orthod 2024; 22 (01) 100834
- 8 De Ridder L, Aleksieva A, Willems G, Declerck D, Cadenas de Llano-Pérula M. Prevalence of orthodontic malocclusions in healthy children and adolescents: a systematic review. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2022; 19 (12) 7446
- 9 Torlińska-Walkowiak N, Majewska KA, Sowińska A, Kędzia A, Opydo-Szymaczek J. Developmental enamel defects and dental anomalies of number and size in children with growth hormone deficiency. Sci Rep 2023; 13 (01) 14707
- 10 Nadeem MS, Ahmed N, Ahmed A. Dental anomalies among patients with malocclusion: a cross-sectional study. IOSR J Dent Med Sci 2016; 15 (03) 33-37
- 11 Dwijendra KS, Parikh V, George SS, Kukkunuru GT, Chowdary GN. Association of dental anomalies with different types of malocclusions in pretreatment orthodontic patients. J Int Oral Health 2015; 7 (06) 61-64
- 12 Abdolrezaei F, Ghorbanijavadpour F, Moradinezhad M. Prevalence of dental anomalies in patients referred to the orthodontic department of a dental school and private offices in Ahvaz. J Med Soc. 2024; 38 (02) 106-111
- 13 Iodice G, Danzi G, Cimino R, Paduano S, Michelotti A. Association between posterior crossbite, skeletal, and muscle asymmetry: a systematic review. Eur J Orthod 2016; 38 (06) 638-651
- 14 Rasol OA, Hajeer MY, Sultan K. et al. Evaluation of the best method for orthodontic correction of skeletal deep bites in growing patients: a systematic review. Cureus 2024; 16 (06) e62666
- 15 Brown A, Green B, White C. The relationship between sagittal classification and open bite malocclusion. J Clin Orthod 2016; 50 (03) 145-150
- 16 American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Guideline on management of the developing dentition and occlusion in pediatric dentistry. Pediatr Dent 2020; 42 (06) 337-348
- 17 Selmani M, Bukleta MS, Duci SB. The role of dental arch dimensions and impacted third molars on mandibular anterior segment crowding. Eur J Dent 2024; 18 (04) 1164-1171
- 18 Yuvashree CS, Jain RK, Prasad AS. Role of sagittal discrepancies in anterior crowding: a review. J Adv Pharm Technol Res 2022; 13 (Suppl. 01) S45-S49
- 19 Crossley AM, Campbell PM, Tadlock LP, Schneiderman E, Buschang PH. Is there a relationship between dental crowding and the size of the maxillary or mandibular apical base?. Angle Orthod 2020; 90 (02) 216-223
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Publication History
Article published online:
14 July 2025
© 2025. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
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References
- 1 Dimberg L, Arnrup K, Bondemark L. The impact of malocclusion on the quality of life among children and adolescents: a systematic review of quantitative studies. Eur J Orthod 2015; 37 (03) 238-247
- 2 Cenzato N, Nobili A, Maspero C. Prevalence of dental malocclusions in different geographical areas: scoping review. Dent J (Basel) 2021; 9 (10) 117
- 3 AlHudaithi FS, AlDuhayan NA, AlJohani LN, AlJohani SN, AlQarni HS, AlSawadi MH. Prevalence of dental anomalies among orthodontic patients: a retrospective study in Saudi Arabia. Cureus 2023; 15 (12) e49893
- 4 Pan Y, Gui Z, Lyu J, Huang J. The prevalence of malocclusion and oral health-related quality of life among 12- and 15-year-old schoolchildren in Shanghai, China: a cross-sectional study. BMC Oral Health 2024; 24 (01) 1315
- 5 Mohammadi Shayan A, Behroozian A, Sadrhaghighi A, Moghaddam SF, Shahmorad Moghanlou A, Amanabi M. Prevalence of dental anomalies in different facial patterns and malocclusions in an Iranian population. J Oral Biol Craniofac Res 2022; 12 (05) 525-528
- 6 Selmani M, Bukleta MS. Prevalence of dental anomalies in various categories of malocclusion among orthodontic patients in the Kosovo region: a retrospective study. Eur J Gen Dent 2023; 12 (02) 103-108
- 7 Reyes-Mantilla V, Dias-Da Silveira HL, Dutra V, Arriola-Guillén LE. Comparison of mesiodistal angulations of premolars and molars in anterior open bite subjects with different sagittal malocclusions: a retrospective study. Int Orthod 2024; 22 (01) 100834
- 8 De Ridder L, Aleksieva A, Willems G, Declerck D, Cadenas de Llano-Pérula M. Prevalence of orthodontic malocclusions in healthy children and adolescents: a systematic review. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2022; 19 (12) 7446
- 9 Torlińska-Walkowiak N, Majewska KA, Sowińska A, Kędzia A, Opydo-Szymaczek J. Developmental enamel defects and dental anomalies of number and size in children with growth hormone deficiency. Sci Rep 2023; 13 (01) 14707
- 10 Nadeem MS, Ahmed N, Ahmed A. Dental anomalies among patients with malocclusion: a cross-sectional study. IOSR J Dent Med Sci 2016; 15 (03) 33-37
- 11 Dwijendra KS, Parikh V, George SS, Kukkunuru GT, Chowdary GN. Association of dental anomalies with different types of malocclusions in pretreatment orthodontic patients. J Int Oral Health 2015; 7 (06) 61-64
- 12 Abdolrezaei F, Ghorbanijavadpour F, Moradinezhad M. Prevalence of dental anomalies in patients referred to the orthodontic department of a dental school and private offices in Ahvaz. J Med Soc. 2024; 38 (02) 106-111
- 13 Iodice G, Danzi G, Cimino R, Paduano S, Michelotti A. Association between posterior crossbite, skeletal, and muscle asymmetry: a systematic review. Eur J Orthod 2016; 38 (06) 638-651
- 14 Rasol OA, Hajeer MY, Sultan K. et al. Evaluation of the best method for orthodontic correction of skeletal deep bites in growing patients: a systematic review. Cureus 2024; 16 (06) e62666
- 15 Brown A, Green B, White C. The relationship between sagittal classification and open bite malocclusion. J Clin Orthod 2016; 50 (03) 145-150
- 16 American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Guideline on management of the developing dentition and occlusion in pediatric dentistry. Pediatr Dent 2020; 42 (06) 337-348
- 17 Selmani M, Bukleta MS, Duci SB. The role of dental arch dimensions and impacted third molars on mandibular anterior segment crowding. Eur J Dent 2024; 18 (04) 1164-1171
- 18 Yuvashree CS, Jain RK, Prasad AS. Role of sagittal discrepancies in anterior crowding: a review. J Adv Pharm Technol Res 2022; 13 (Suppl. 01) S45-S49
- 19 Crossley AM, Campbell PM, Tadlock LP, Schneiderman E, Buschang PH. Is there a relationship between dental crowding and the size of the maxillary or mandibular apical base?. Angle Orthod 2020; 90 (02) 216-223