[1] Three basic types of facial morphology exists; short, average, and long. Those with long face have excessive vertical facial growth which is usually associated with an anterior open bite, selleck products increased sella-nasion mandibular plane angle, increased gonial angle, and increased maxillary/mandibular planes angle. The short face types have reduced vertical growth that is accompanied by a deep over bite, reduced facial heights, and reduced sella-nasion mandibular plane angle. Between the two types lies the average face.[2] Median mandibular flexure (MMF) is the mandibular deformation characterized by decrease in the arch width during jaw opening and protrusive movements because of the functional contraction of the lateral pterygoid muscle causing high strain in the symphyseal region.

[3] External pterygoids contract in an almost frontal plane during the opening and protrusion of the mandible pull the condyles together and this contraction causes flexure.[4] The influence of geometric facial factors on mandibular deformation is unclear as only a few measures have been found to be statistically significant. For example, some in vivo studies observed that the highest values of mandibular deformation occurred in subjects with lower symphysis height.[3,5] Also, Chen et al.[6] found that subjects with larger mandibular length, lower gonial angle, and smaller symphysis area had the highest mandibular deformation. Osbourne and Tomalin[7] in an in vivo study proved the changes in arch width during forced opening and protrusion and also demonstrated that the degree of flexure depends on the opening of the mouth.

There is a lack of data from Indian populations on mandibular deformation in relation to vertical facial pattern. The purpose of this study is to measure the arch width and MMF values at relative rest and maximum jaw opening in young adults with Dolichofacial, Mesofacial, and Brachyfacial types and tested whether the variation in the facial pattern AV-951 is related to the MMF values in South Indian population. MATERIALS AND METHODS The Sample in this cross-sectional prospective study consisted of 60 individuals who visited the Department of orthodontics Narayana Dental College, Nellore. Inclusion criteria: Patient who were to begin orthodontic treatment for whom the radiographs are routinely taken. Male and Female subjects between 20 to 30 years of age. Exclusion criteria: Growth abnormality, Bleeding disorder, Patients on any long-term medication.