CONDYLAR GROWTH AND GLENOID FOSSA DISPLACEMENT DURING CHILDHOOD AND ADOLESCENCE

This study evaluated age and gender differences in the growth of the m andibular condyle and displacement of the glenoid fossa. The results p ertain to longitudinal samples of untreated French Canadians, includin g 118 children and 155 adolescents. Childhood and adolescent growth we re described for girls aged between 6 and 10 years and 9 and 13 years, respectively, and for boys aged between 8 and 12 years and 11 and 15 years, respectively. Four-year growth changes of the cephalometric lan dmarks condylion and articulare were evaluated. Mandibular and cranial /cranial base structural superimpositions were used to assess condylar growth and fossa displacement, respectively. The results showed that the condyle grew between 0.8 and 1.3 mm posteriorly and between 9.0 an d 10.7 mm superiorly over the 4-year periods; the articulare landmark showed significantly more posterior and less superior growth than the condylion landmark. Relative to the cranial base reference structures, the fossa was displaced between 1.8 and 2.1 mm posteriorly and betwee n 1.0 and 1.8 mm inferiorly. The articulare showed significantly more inferior movement than the condylion, Boys showed significantly greate r superior condylar growth during adolescence than during childhood. T he glenoid fossa demonstrated greater posterior and inferior displacem ent during adolescence than during childhood.