Craniofacial growth in untreated skeletal Class II subjects: a longitudinal study.

Eighty-five (45 male and 40 female) skeletal Class II untreated subjects with low (< 27 degrees ), average (27 degrees - 36 degrees ), and high (> 36 degrees ) mandibular plane angles (MP-SN) were selected from the Bolton-Brush and the Burlington Growth Studies. Cephalograms of each subject at ages 9 and 18 were traced, and 28 parameters were measured. The difference in each parameter from ages 9 to 18 was calculated, and comparisons were made between the groups with low, average, and high angles. Results showed that for children at age 9, the high-angle group showed greater convexity, larger Y-axis and gonial angles, and greater anterior facial height, and the low-angle group had larger SNA and SNB angles, and greater posterior cranial base, mandibular body, ramus height, and posterior facial height. From ages 9 to 18, all the low-, average-, and high-angle groups showed a decrease of convexity (more flattened face) and a mandibular forward rotation (decreased MP-SN). The low-angle group displayed significantly more facial flattening and more mandibular forward rotation than did the high-angle group. Moreover, the mandibular incisors became more retroclined in the low-angle group and more proclined in the high-angle group with age. Comparisons between males and females showed similar skeletal growth patterns in angular measurements. However, a significant sex difference was noted in some linear measurements.