Master’s Degree Awarded to Ms. Fawzia Al-Hatami in Orthodontics
Ms. Fawzia Mohammed Mahdi Al-Hatami was awarded a Master’s degree in Orthodontics for her thesis titled: Evaluation of Hyoid Bone Position and Orientation to the Cranial Base, Mandible, and Third Cervical Vertebra in Anteroposterior Malocclusion Patterns, which was submitted to the Department of Orthodontics, Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry – Sana’a University. The MA defense was held on Tuesday, September 23, 2025.
The MA Viva-voce Committee, which was formed based on a resolution issued by the Graduate Studies and Scientific Research Council, consisted of the following:
| # | Committee Members | Designation | Position |
| 1 | Prof. Ghamdan Abdullah Al-Harazi | Internal Examiner | Chair |
| 2 | Assoc. Prof. Naila Mohammed Al-Mujahed | Main Supervisor | Member |
| 3 | Prof. Yasser Ali Ahmed Thabet | External Examiner | Member |
The study aimed to assess the position of the hyoid bone and its relationship to the cranial base, mandible, and third cervical vertebra, as well as the influencing factors in different anteroposterior malocclusion patterns. The research also sought to highlight the clinical value of the hyoid bone for orthodontists in diagnosis and treatment planning to avoid complications prior to surgical or orthodontic interventions.
The study concluded that:
- Awareness of the hyoid bone’s significance must be raised among orthodontists before any orthodontic treatment.
- The analysis offers a valuable diagnostic tool for identifying different types of malocclusion and examining positional variations of the hyoid bone between males and females.
- The hyoid bone serves as a critical diagnostic marker in cases of malocclusion caused by harmful oral habits such as abnormal swallowing or mouth breathing.
Based on the findings, the researcher proposed several recommendations, including:
- Raising general and professional awareness about the importance of the hyoid bone before conducting any orthodontic treatment.
- Raising awareness about the importance of the hyoid bone to orthodontists.
- Adjusting healthcare policies to focus on examining and diagnosing the position of the hyoid bone prior to surgery or orthodontic intervention.
- Conducting longitudinal studies across broader Yemeni populations in different regions.
The defense session was attended by a number of academics, researchers, and interested participants, colleagues and the researcher’s family members.
