A Serial Cephalometric Study of Human Maxillary Growth

Abstract

Cephalometric radiographs were obtained on 18 subjects possessing normal deciduous dentitions at a mean age of five years, three months, and again at mean ages eight years, eight months, and nine years, seven months. Nine of these were again studied at a mean age of 11 years, ten months. The discussion of growth was primarily described from a mean age of five years, three months, representing deciduous dentitions to age eight years, eight months, representing early mixed dentition, and then to age 11 years, ten months, representing early permanent dentitions. Growth increments were studied through the use of direct measurements, linear and angular, from acetate tracings. In addition, a method of superposing serial records has been presented. The method involves the use of minimally growing areas in the body of the maxilla. Nasal floor was the plane of reference, and the mean image of key ridge was used as a registration point. By utilizing this method of orientation, the effects of growth of distal structures is eliminated, and growth of the maxilla itself is more apparent. The data were subjected to statistical analysis to describe total sample measurements and increments of growth. The data were also examined to determine if any correlation exists between skeletal relationships and growth increments. In addition, individual sample variation was discussed and composite tracings of three subjects were used to describe some individual growth changes. A check on the accuracy of the measurements due to interpretation of landmarks and mechanical errors was described.