Craniofacial Growth Pattern And Sexual Dimorphism In Skeletal Class â…  Adolescents During The Growth Spurt

Objective:Cephalometric measurements of young adolescent patients were taken before and after the peak of growth spurt, to analyze the influence of gender differences on different growth stages of craniofacial hard and soft tissues and to further examine the correlation between craniofacial hard and soft tissue indicators so as to provide a reference for clinical orthodontic treatment.Material and Methods:239cases of Class I skeletal pattern base were selected as sample from Hunan province. According to Cervical vertebrae staging system, the sample was divided into2-1) Group one-Before growth spurt (CV1-CV3), total121cases2) Group two-After growth spurt (CV5-CV6), total118casesMeasurements on the Cephalograms were taken before the treatment and analyzed. There were total of26indicators of hard and soft tissue.Using dependent t test(α=0.05), the analysis was done on the two groups to find the influence of gender differences.Pearson correlation analysis was done to further investigate the craniofacial hard tissue and facial growth relationship and also the correlation between the hard and soft tissues. Results:1. Before the growth spurt, the S-N, S-Ar, Go-Me, A-Sn, Ls-Ls’, Li-Li’, lower lip length were larger in boys than in girls(P<0.05). The soft tissue profile and the soft tissue convexity were larger in girls than in boys(P<0.05).2. After the growth spurt, the values of S-N, S-Ar, Ar-Go,Go-Me, A-Sn, Ls-Ls’, Li-Li’, B-Sm, upper and lowerlip length were larger in boys than in girls(P<0.05). The value of soft tissue profile was larger in girls than in boys(P<0.05).3. In males, during growth spurt, the values which show significant increment were Articular angle, S-N, Ar-Go, Go-Me, A-Sn, B-Sm, upper and lower lips length(P<0.05). Rest of the measurements S-N:Go-Me, S-Ar:Ar-Go, nasolabial angle, distance of upper lip to esthetic line show a decrease in their value (p<0.05).4. In females, during growth spurt, S-N, Ar-Go, Go-Me, A-Sn had significant increase in their value.(p<0.05), whereas S-Ar:Ar-Go, S-N:Go-Me, lip-chin-throat-angle, distance of upper and lower lip to esthetic line and soft tissue convexity showed decrease in their value (p<0.05).5. In both males and females, the correlation coefficient values were moderate to low with respect between facial growth pattern indicators and Pog-NB, S-Ar, Ar-Go, Gonial angle(p<0.05). Females growth pattern indicators have moderate to low correlation ship with S-Ar:Ar-Go (p<0.05). Craniofacial hard tissue measurement have moderate to low correlation ship with most of the soft tissue indicators.6. Soft tissue measurements have correlation with each other.Conclusion:1. Craniofacial form, thickness and convexity in adolescents show sexual dimorphism.2. In both males and females, growth potential is seen during growth spurt.3. Cranial base and mandibular shapes have correlation with facial growth pattern indicators and the correlation is moderate to low.4. Craniofacial hard and soft tissues are inter-related and hold clinical importance and it helps in improving patient’s profile during orthodontic treatment.