Craniofacial parameters during growth from the deciduous to permanent dentition--a longitudinal study.

Data on the dynamics of craniofacial growth, obtained by simple non-invasive measurements, are scarce in comparison with those collected by cephalometric methods. The aim of this study was to measure a number of craniofacial parameters, and to evaluate their changes during transition from the deciduous to the permanent dentition. A sample of 61 subjects (32 boys and 29 girls) were followed longitudinally by annual examination from an initial mean age of 4.7 years to a final mean age of 11.8 years. Conventional anthropometric instruments were employed to measure six craniofacial variables: G-Op, Eu-Eu, Zy-Zy, Go-Go, N-Gn and N-Pr. The data were analysed using basic summary statistics and a longitudinal regression model. A difference between males and females was found for all variables during the study period. During the transition from deciduous to mixed dentition (4.7-7.5 years), the cranial breadth and length (Eu-Eu and G-Op) decreased followed by an increase during the mixed dentition. All other parameters showed a continuous increase, which was highest for the variables defining facial height.