Sella turcica bridging as a potential diagnostic tool for dental anomalies: A retrospective cross-sectional study at university dental hospital

BACKGROUND: A lateral cephalogram is an essential diagnostic record for an orthodontist. It is used for diagnosis and treatment planning. This can be a prediction tool as well for developing anomalies of the skeletal, dental, and soft tissues of the head and neck. The sella turcica (ST), being a central landmark for cephalometric assessment, has great importance in itself as a diagnostic parameter to predict certain dental problems related to its bridging. AIM OF THE STUDY: 1. To assess and compare the shape, size, and bridging of ST in subjects of Taif with different skeletal classifications. 2. To find whether there is any association between dental anomalies and sella turcica bridging (STB). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study obtained ethical approval from the research ethics committee of Taif University with application no. 44-354 and with no. HAO-02-T-1 dated June 4, 2023. The study involved 87 study samples, divided as follows: a. Group 1: 49 control records. b. Group 2: 38 case records with STB. RESULTS: The results of our study were promising in relation to STB and the occurrence of dental anomalies in both the case and the control with the frequencies of occurrence being 46.94% and 36.84%, respectively. It was found that the percentage of distribution was more among class I malocclusions and least in class III. It is imperative that impaction (13.8%) is the most associated anomaly, followed by ectopic eruption (11.5%). Supernumerary teeth and gemination were the least associated with STB, and only 1% of the cases showed an association. Statistically significant associations were found for all types of dental anomalies as a result of distribution among cases and controls. CONCLUSION: Orthodontists commonly employ lateral cephalograms as a regular practice to aid in diagnosis and treatment planning. Furthermore, these cephalograms can serve as predictive tools for dental anomalies. Detecting skeletal abnormalities at an early stage can provide insight into the likelihood of future dental anomalies, enabling clinicians to implement preventive measures accordingly.