CRANIOFACIAL SHAPE VARIABILITY
Craniofacial shape variability
Craniofacial morphology shows wide variability in humans. The genetic basis of this variability is not known, although a large number of genes are implicated in dentofacial development. We are investigating dental and craniofacial morphology in children and adults using dental casts, photographs, cephalometric radiographs and computed tomography. Our aims are: a) to describe variability patterns of the teeth and the craniofacial skeleton, b) to investigate the covariation between teeth and the craniofacial skeleton, and between different regions of the craniofacial skeleton, and c) to investigate the genetic basis of dental and craniofacial variability. In addition to conventional measurement methods, we use geometric morphometrics to study shape.
Departments:
External collaborations:
- Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, University of Bern, CH-3010, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Pediatric Oral Health and Orthodontics, UZB – University School of Dental Medicine, University of Basel, CH-4058, Basel, Switzerland
- Oral Development and Orthodontics, Research Unit of Oral Health Sciences, Medical Faculty, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Oral and Maxillofacial Department, Oulu University Hospital, Medical Research Center Oulu (MRC Oulu), Oulu, Finland
- Clinic of Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry, Center of Dental Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Adelaide Dental School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia
- Department of Life Science and Public Health, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
- Unit of Paediatric Neurosurgery, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
Selected publications:
Shape variation and sex differences of the adult human mandible evaluated by geometric morphometrics. Chalazoniti A, Lattanzi W, Halazonetis DJ. Sci Rep. 2024;14(1):8546. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-57617-7 PMID: 38609399
Third molar agenesis relates to human craniofacial form. Kanavakis G, Alamoudi R, Oeschger ES, Tacchi M, Halazonetis D, Gkantidis N. Eur J Orthod 2023. doi: 10.1093/ejo/cjad057. PMID: 37870430
Covariance patterns between ramus morphology and the rest of the face: A geometric morphometric study. Krüsi M, Halazonetis DJ, Eliades T, Koretsi V. Korean J Orthod 2023. doi: 10.4041/kjod22.208. PMID: 37113038
Number of Teeth Is Related to Craniofacial Morphology in Humans. Oeschger ES, Kanavakis G, Cocos A, Halazonetis DJ, Gkantidis N. Biology (Basel) 2022;11:544. doi: 10.3390/biology11040544. PMID: 35453743
Third Molar Agenesis Is Associated with Facial Size. Gkantidis N, Tacchi M, Oeschger ES, Halazonetis D, Kanavakis G. Biology (Basel) 2021;10:650. doi: 10.3390/biology10070650
Profile shape variation and sexual dimorphism amongst middle-aged Northern Europeans. Kanavakis G, Silvola AS, Halazonetis D, Lähdesmäki R, Pirttiniemi P. Eur J Orthod. 2021. doi: 10.1093/ejo/cjab004. PMID: 33822026
Craniofacial shape in patients with beta thalassaemia: a geometric morphometric analysis. Roussos P, Mitsea A, Halazonetis D, Sifakakis I. Sci Rep. 2021 Jan 18;11(1):1686. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-80234-z. PMID: 33462286; PMCID: PMC7814138
Three-dimensional (3D) geometric morphometric analysis of human premolars to assess sexual dimorphism and biological ancestry in Australian populations. Yong R, Ranjitkar S, Lekkas D, Halazonetis D, Evans A, Brook A, Townsend G. Am J Phys Anthropol. 2018 Jun;166(2):373-385. doi: 10.1002/ajpa.23438. PMID: 29446438
Geometric morphometric analysis of craniofacial growth between the ages of 12 and 14 in normal humans. Katsadouris A, Halazonetis DJ. Eur J Orthod. 2017 Aug 1;39(4):386-394. doi: 10.1093/ejo/cjw070. PMID: 27940444
Morphometric covariation between palatal shape and skeletal pattern in children and adolescents: a cross-sectional study. Parcha E, Bitsanis E, Halazonetis DJ. Eur J Orthod. 2017 Aug 1;39(4):377-385. doi: 10.1093/ejo/cjw063. PMID: 27694577
Craniofacial shape differs in patients with tooth agenesis: geometric morphometric analysis. Cocos A, Halazonetis DJ. Eur J Orthod. 2017 Aug 1;39(4):345-351. doi: 10.1093/ejo/cjw049. PMID: 27464525
Geometric morphometric 3D shape analysis and covariation of human mandibular and maxillary first molars. Polychronis G, Christou P, Mavragani M, Halazonetis DJ. Am J Phys Anthropol. 2013 Oct;152(2):186-96. doi: 10.1002/ajpa.22340. PMID: 24009105