Craniofacial growth: a three-dimensional soft-tissue study from 6 years to adulthood

Area of Science:

• Anthropometry
• Facial Growth
• Human Anatomy

Background:

• Understanding typical facial development is crucial for diagnosing growth disorders.
• Previous studies often lacked detailed 3D analysis of facial soft tissues.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze normal facial growth and development in Caucasian children and adolescents.
• To quantify sexual dimorphism in facial dimensions and growth timing.

Main Methods:

• Mixed longitudinal and cross-sectional study involving 1,156 children/adolescents and 191 young adults.
• Three-dimensional facial morphometry using automated infrared photogrammetry to collect 22 landmark coordinates.
• Calculation of 3D parameters including linear distances, angles, and ratios for facial height, width, depth, and convexity.

Main Results:

• Males generally showed larger facial linear distances than females, with a notable female growth spurt around ages 11-12.
• Facial growth was nearly complete in females by 14-15 years, while males continued significant growth.
• Sexual dimorphism was most pronounced in the lower third of the face, with greater soft-tissue increase in males (23%) compared to females (17%).

Conclusions:

• Significant sexual dimorphism exists in the timing and extent of soft-tissue facial growth, particularly in the lower face.
• Despite differing growth trajectories, males and females achieve similar adult facial dimensions.
• Automated 3D photogrammetry provides precise data for analyzing facial growth patterns.