ENHANCEMENT OF THE EXTENDED DIGITAL CONE-BEAM COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY ANALYSIS PROTOCOL FOR THE MAXILLOFACIAL REGION IN PATIENTS WITH DENTOALVEOLAR OCCLUSAL DISORDERS DURING THE MIXED DENTITION PERIOD

The mixed dentition period is characterized by active growth and remodeling of the craniofacial complex, and occlusal disturbances at this stage can lead to persistent dental arch anomalies, temporomandibular joint dysfunction, and aesthetic defects. Traditional diagnostic methods do not provide a comprehensive three dimensional personalized assessment, whereas the introduction of cone beam computed tomography opens up new possibilities for accurate analysis of bony, dental, and joint structures with low radiation exposure. The aim of this study was to improve the protocol for digital CBCT analysis of the maxillofacial region in children aged 6–12 years with dentoalveolar occlusal disorders. A total of 172 patients (mean age 8.7 ±1.8 years) were examined at a dental clinic in Stavropol (2022–2025). All underwent CBCT on a KaVo OP300 Maxio unit, 3D scanning of plaster dental casts, 3D cephalometry and biometry to determine the dental arch type, facial type (mesognathic, brachygnathic, dolichognathic), and TMJ angles. Statistical analysis was performed using Pearson's chi square test at a significance level of p < 0.05. Distal occlusion was the most common finding (59.13 %), followed by crossbite (24.35 %) and mesial occlusion (16.52 %). The mesognathic facial type was found in 54.65 % of patients, brachygnathic in 24.42 %, and dolichognathic in 20.93 %. The normodontic dental arch type prevailed in the mesognathic group (29.65 %). Mean linear parameters of the dental arches and variability of the condylar convergence angle (120–155°) were established. Maxillary arch constriction was more frequent in the dolichognathic type (62.5 %) and correlated with a decreased interincisal angle (r = 0.42; p < 0.05), while an increased sagittal overjet was associated with the brachygnathic type (71.4 %). The proposed multilevel digital protocol proved to be highly informative, providing an objective quantitative assessment of the relationships between dentoalveolar and craniofacial structures, which enables personalized orthodontic treatment planning in children with mixed dentition. The obtained systematized characteristics can serve as reference criteria for the differential diagnosis of various occlusal disorders.