Facial growth: before, during, and following orthodontic treatment

A longitudinal growth study was done on nineteen persons, involving three types of malocclusion and several types of treatment. Facial growth direction of the middle and lower face was compared during pretreatment, treatment, and posttreatment phases of the individuals. The individuals in the sample varied in direction of facial growth, Some individuals had an almost horizontal growth direction, and others had a vertical growth direction. The individuals in the sample varied in their degree of response to orthodontic treatment. Several had no change from their normal growth direction. Several had a deviation in direction associated with orthodontic treatment. The deviation was clockwise in nature and the direction changed from horizontal to vertical or from vertical to slightly backward of vertical. Middle and lower face tended to move in conjunction during all phases. If ANS moved in a horizontal direction, pogonion tended to move in a horizontal direction. If ANS moved in a vertical direction, pogonion tended to move in a vertical direction. If ANS stopped moving forward, pogonion stopped moving forward.