Length of the styloid process associated with different skeletal patterns in Turkish Adolescents

Aim: The purpose of this study was to investigate the length of the styloid process (SP) in different skeletal patterns and stages of skeletal maturation. Materials and Methods: Radiographs involving SP (n = 158; 77 female and 81 male, age with a mean value of 12.84 ± 1.94 years) were evaluated retrospectively. Class I group included 52 subjects (0 ≤ ANB ≤4), Class II group included 57 subjects (ANB>4), and Class III group included 49 subjects (ANB <0). The length of the SP was measured in Photoshop CS5 software (Adobe Systems Inc., San Jose, CA, USA). Skeletal maturation stages were determined by the evaluation of hand-wrist radiographs and lateral cephalometric radiographs. The data were analyzed using Student's t-test and one-way ANOVA. Results: Statistically significant difference in the length of the SP was found between Class I and Class II group (P ≤≤≤05). The mean length of the SP was 30.68 ± 9.69 mm in Class I group and 34.63 ± 5.87 mm in Class II group. No statistically significant difference was found in between skeletal maturation stages of the groups neither in the bilateral length of the SP between genders. Conclusion: The risk of Eagle syndrome in skeletal Class II malocclusion might be higher. In addition, when a patient is referred with pain in the temporomandibular area with skeletal Class II anomaly, SP elongation should be considered besides the joint problems.