Auswirkungen von Geschlecht, Alter und kieferorthopädischem Befund auf Körperschwerpunkt und Standstabilität

A potential relation between dental findings and body posture has been a long discussed issue between the classic fields of dentistry and orthopedics. Due to the contradictory findings in scientific studies, the objective of this study was to examine the influence of transversal and sagittal malocclusions on position and stability of the center of pressure in posturography. The study included 151 subjects (67 male, 84 female, age 4-34 years). Dental recordings included sagittal malocclusions according to angle-class and skeletal anomaly and transversal malocclusions such as uni- or bilateral posterior crossbite. A posturographic force platform, model “FDM” by zebris, and the software “WinFDMS 1.2.0” were used for the measures of center of pressure parameters. Postural recordings were performed in standardized foot position and both, with eyes open and eyes closed. Patients were asked to rest in habitual intercuspidation without clenching the teeth. For the analysis, lateral and antero-posterior displacement of the center of pressure, as well as sway length and an index of asymmetry of pressure distribution served as posturographic parameters. A more anterior position of the center of pressure and less body sway was found with increase of age. Female patients showed a more posterior center of pressure and less body sway than males. Significant differences of posturographic parameters were found in sagittal and transversal malocclusions: With the lack of vision, patients with skeletal class III as well as subjects with unilateral crossbite showed higher body sway than patients with skeletal class II or I and without crossbite. Regarding the displacement of the center of pressure, patients with angle-class III had a more anterior position than patients with angle-class II. In addition to that, patients with unilateral crossbite showed a more posterior and right positioned center of pressure than patients without posterior crossbite. The lateral pressure distribution beneath the feet tended to be more symmetric in patients without transversal malocclusion. These results suggest a relation between the stomatognatic system and body posture and encourage to investigate possible postural changes during an orthodontic treatment. However, posturography only allows the display of the summation of all involved adjusting anatomical structures of the movement apparatus on posture. In order to identify direct effects more clinical research regarding other methods is necessary.