Craniofacial growth and skeletal maturation: a mixed longitudinal study

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between crani ofacial growth and skeletal maturation. The material consisted of the cepha lometric and hand-wrist film pairs of 35 males and 43 females (78 subjects) whose development was followed for a period of 4 to 7 years. The subjects were grouped according to their skeletal maturation. Their mean ages were: Group I 10.27, Group II 11.55, and Group III 14.79 years, respectively, at the beginning of the observation period. Intra- and inter-group differences were examined through paired t-tests, and Pearson correlation analysis was used to detect the relationship between craniofacial growth and skeletal m aturation (percentage growth potential). The results show that the middle cranial base (T-W) maintained its stabilit y in all pubertal growth periods. However, posterior cranial base length (T -Ba) increases significantly (P < 0.001) throughout the same period. There were similar increases in the vertical dimensions of the face and alveolar height throughout pubertal growth. Despite the intensified increases in bot h the sagittal and vertical directions, facial characteristics were constan t in the sagittal direction. The skeletal development (percentage growth potential) has clearly been eff ective in the vertical facial development commencing in Group I and reachin g its maximum level in Group II. However Cd-Go was the exception.