The European Journal of Orthodontics Advance Access published online on July 27, 2009
The European Journal of Orthodontics, doi:10.1093/ejo/cjp059
Orthodontics and foetal pathology: a personal view on craniofacial patterning
Department of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
Address for correspondence Inger Kjær, Department of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 20 Nørre Alle, DK-2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark, E-mail: ik{at}odont.ku.dk
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This article summarizes the essentials of studies on the craniofacial skeleton performed over 17 years. It presents data from research into foetal pathology resulting in new views on craniofacial patterning and/or fields for further discussion.
The fields described cover all areas seen on profile, frontal, and panoramic radiographs. The fields are the theca, frontonasal, maxillary, palatine, and mandibular together with the cerebellar field and cervical spine. Regional fields in the dentition are described according to the pattern of peripheral nerve innervation. Studies on severely malformed foetuses show that the malformation can occur solely within a single field or in several fields. This is the background for these personal views on craniofacial patterning. These new views may assist in the diagnosis and interpretation of malformations in the cranium and dentition.