Is radius-union an indicator for completed facial growth?

The purpose of this study was to determine if facial or dentoalveolar growth takes place after the occurrence of the radiographic handwrist stage R-J (completed fusion of the proximal epiphysis and diaphysis of the radius), which generally defines the completion of facial growth. Handwrist roentgenograms and lateral head films (LHFs) from 56 subjects (31 male and 25 female) aged 14 to 21 years were examined. Eight cephalometric distances (3 sagittal, 4 vertical, and 1 diagonal) and their changes during 2 different examination periods (from 1 year before to 2 years after the occurrence of R-J) were assessed. The investigation revealed that after the occurrence of R-J vertical dentoalveolar growth changes between 0.5 and 1.75 mm took place in the mandible and in the maxilla in 20% and 10% of the subjects, respectively. Comparing the 2 periods the frequency of the measured growth changes before and after R-J was, on average, almost equal. Because chronological age cannot be used for the assessment of facial growth termination, a reliable indicator for the assessment of facial growth termination is of major importance. After the occurrence of the handwrist stage R-J, most subjects revealed growth changes of less than 1 mm. Especially in the field of tooth implantology, it is important to forecast even small vertical dentoalveolar growth changes. The detected amount of growth after the insertion of an implant can cause esthetic and functional problems.