Development of Artificial Neural Network-Based Prediction Model for Evaluation of Maxillary Arch Growth in Children with Complete Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate

INTRODUCTION

Cleft lip and palate (CLP) are the most common congenital craniofacial deformities that can cause a variety of dental abnormalities in children. The purpose of this study was to predict the maxillary arch growth and to develop a neural network logistic regression model for both UCLP and non-UCLP individuals.

METHODS

This study utilizes a novel method incorporating many approaches, such as the bootstrap method, a multi-layer feed-forward neural network, and ordinal logistic regression. A dataset was created based on the following factors: socio-demographic characteristics such as age and gender, as well as cleft type and category of malocclusion associated with the cleft. Training data were used to create a model, whereas testing data were used to validate it. The study is separated into two phases: phase one involves the use of a multilayer neural network and phase two involves the use of an ordinal logistic regression model to analyze the underlying association between cleft and the factors chosen.

RESULTS

The findings of the hybrid technique using ordinal logistic regression are discussed, where category acts as both a dependent variable and as the study's output. The ordinal logistic regression was used to classify the dependent variables into three categories. The suggested technique performs exceptionally well, as evidenced by a Predicted Mean Square Error (PMSE) of 2.03%.

CONCLUSION

The outcome of the study suggests that there is a strong association between gender, age, and cleft. The difference in width and length of the maxillary arch in UCLP is mainly related to the severity of the cleft and facial growth pattern.

Prevalence of Occlusal Features and Their Relation to Sociodemographic Variables in Northwest Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND

Malocclusion affects the chewing, dental aesthetics, jaw development, and overall attractiveness of individuals. The negative impact of malocclusion is high, particularly in adolescents who can be the target of teasing, intimidation, and name-calling. Even if, malocclusion is a common problem in developing countries, there was a paucity of data in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the prevalence and associated factors of malocclusion in northwest Ethiopia.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was done at the University of Gondar comprehensive hospital from December 1, 2019, to October 30, 2020. Four hundred seventy-six study participants were selected using a systematic random sampling method. Data collection was done using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire. Qualified dental professionals examined malocclusion traits according to the WHO oral health survey tool and evaluated for the presence of malocclusion in terms of angles classification, open bite, crossbite, spacing, and crowding. Data entry was done using Epi-Info 7, and analyzed by SPSS 26. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression was done to analyze the data.

RESULTS

A total of 476 subjects were included in the study with a mean age of 29.83 (SD±14.013). The prevalence of malocclusion was 55.9% (95% CI: 51.39-60.28). The common occlusal traits were class-I malocclusion with minor discrepancy (34.9%), anterior crowding (22.9%), and anterior open bite (21.6%). The prevalence of anterior crossbite, posterior crossbite, class-II, and class-III malocclusion was 5.9%, 3.8%, 10.9%, and 8.0%, respectively. Males (AOR=1.6, 95% CI: 1.11, 2.30), urban residents (AOR=1.64, 95% CI: 1.06, 2.56), monthly income of ≤2500 Ethiopian Birr (AOR=1.27, 95% CI: 1.02, 1.59) and mouth breathers (AOR=2.50, 95% CI: 1.72, 2.63) were significantly associated with malocclusion.

CONCLUSION

Significant amount of the study participants had malocclusion. Males, urban residents, low monthly income, and mouth breathing habits were independent factors for a malocclusion. Therefore, early attention to the development of the dentition and occlusion, and necessary functional correction during childhood are important to reduce its prevalence and lifelong adverse effect. Moreover, publicly financed orthodontic treatment should be scheduled, and supplied to individuals in desperate need of orthodontic care.