[Dynamics of the growth of craniofacial structures-a longitudinal study]

The frequency of basal cranial and facial forms, and of craniofacial indices, was analyzed to obtain some additional information on the craniofacial growth during a dynamic interval of the conversion of primary into mixed dentition. A sample of 72 children aged 3.5-5.5 years, free of any symptoms of orthodontic anomalies, were re-evaluated at the age of 6.5-8.5 years. The children were divided into groups according to anomalies possibly present on the second examination. Analysis of the subject distribution into cranial and facial forms revealed slight alterations during the period of observation. Therefore, analysis of the magnitude and frequency of index alterations was also included in the study. These analyses led to a conclusion that changes in the craniofacial form were quite frequently present but their intensity was too low for a subject to be allocated to the other basal group. A relationship between the craniofacial form alteration and maxillary morphology specific for particular anomaly could also be discerned. Thus, alterations in each individual dimension included in the indices, occurring during the mentioned interval, should be analyzed to shed more light upon the problem.