Predicting mandibular growth based on CVM stage and gender and with chronological age as a curvilinear variable

The aim of this study was to develop a prediction model that combines the information derived from chronological age (analysed as a curvilinear variable), gender and the CVM method to predict mandibular growth.

50 participants (29 females, 21 males) were selected from the AAOF Craniofacial Growth Legacy Collection, the Michigan Growth Study and the Denver Child Growth study.

In this investigation, 456 lateral cephalograms were analysed by applying a mixed effect model. The outcome variable was the annualized increment in total mandibular length (Co-Gn) during the year following the lateral cephalogram on which the cervical stage and chronological age were evaluated. The predictive variables were chronological age up to the fifth order, gender, stage of cervical vertebral maturation, as well as interactions between age and gender, age and cervical stage, and gender and cervical stage.

Cervical stage, chronological age up to the fourth order, gender, and the interaction between age and gender were significant predictors of annualized increments in mandibular length. The annualized increment in Co-Gn was significantly greater for CS 3 when compared to all other cervical stages. Further, annualized increments in Co-Gn for CS 1 and CS 2 were significantly greater when compared to CS 5.

Cervical stage, chronological age and gender can be used jointly to predict the annualized increment in mandibular growth. Cervical stage 3 exhibited the greatest annualized increase in mandibular length.