Face height and tooth eruption in adults--a 20-year follow-up investigation.

A longitudinal roentgen cephalometric investigation of vertical craniofacial and dentoalveolar changes during 20 years of adulthood, was performed in 15 men and 15 women. Two lateral cephalograms taken at the average ages 25 and 45 years, were available of each subject. Skeletal and dental changes were described by 13 linear and four angular cephalometric measurements. The analysis of the linear variables showed that total anterior face height increased by 1.60 mm on average. Approximately one-fifth of this increase occurred in the upper and four-fifths in the lower face. In the dentoalveolar region, significant increments of all dimensions except overjet and overbite were found, indicating an eruptive movement of the teeth and a vertical development of their investing tissues. The analysis of the angular measurements showed that posterior rotation of the mandible and uprighting of the upper incisors had occurred during the period of investigation.