Short- and Long-Term Prediction of the Post-Pubertal Mandibular Length and Y-Axis in Females Utilizing Machine Learning

Abstract

The aim of this study was to create a novel machine learning (ML) algorithm for predicting the post-pubertal mandibular length and Y-axis in females. Cephalometric data from 176 females with Angle Class I occlusion were used to train and test seven ML algorithms. For all ML methods tested, the mean absolute errors (MAEs) for the 2-year prediction ranged from 2.78 to 5.40 mm and 0.88 to 1.48 degrees, respectively. For the 4-year prediction, MAEs of mandibular length and Y-axis ranged from 3.21 to 4.00 mm and 1.19 to 5.12 degrees, respectively. The most predictive factors for post-pubertal mandibular length were mandibular length at previous timepoints, age, sagittal positions of the maxillary and mandibular skeletal bases, mandibular plane angle, and anterior and posterior face heights. The most predictive factors for post-pubertal Y-axis were Y-axis at previous timepoints, mandibular plane angle, and sagittal positions of the maxillary and mandibular skeletal bases. ML methods were identified as capable of predicting mandibular length within 3 mm and Y-axis within 1 degree. Compared to each other, all of the ML algorithms were similarly accurate, with the exception of multilayer perceptron regressor.

A Novel Machine Learning Model for Predicting Orthodontic Treatment Duration

“…In recent years, there has been a remarkable surge in the application of AI and ML techniques within the field of dentistry [10][11][12], including the specialized domain of orthodontics [13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25]. These technologies have been harnessed to analyze radiographic images [23,[26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33], predict growth [24,34,35], optimize orthodontic treatment decision-making processes [13][14][15][16][17][19][20][21][22]25,36]. Regrettably, a limited number of studies have employed AI and ML methodologies in forecasting orthodontic treatment duration [37,38].…”