Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the interrelation of the reference points and planes on the palate along with individual maxillofacial growth through cephalometric analysis.
200 lateral cephalometric radiographs obtained longitudinally from 50 Canadian Caucasian boys and girls were borrowed from the Burlington Growth Center at the University of Toronto.
These cephalometric radiographs were taken at the ages 6,9,12 and 16years whose occlusions were normal at each age.
7 landmarks such as S, N, ANS, PNS, Ora, M (the middle point of mesiodistal crown diameter in the 2nd primary molar or the permanent 1st molar), and P (the deepest point of the palatal vault) were employed for the analysis of the cephalometric radiographs.
The following are the results of the present investigation.
1) The mean values of S-N to ANS-PNS angles and S-N to Ora-PNS angles were relatively stable through the ages of 6 to 16 years.
2) The differences of the mean values of S-N to Ora-M angles with the primary dentition, mixed dentition and permanent dentition became greater as the age increased.
3) The mean value of Ora-M to Ora-P at 9 years of age was notably less than that one at 6 years of age, otherwise the mean values of Ora-M to Ora-P became greater as the subjects became older after 9 years of age.
4) The pubertal growth difference was found clearly in these reference points and planes on the palatal vault between boys and girls. From the results above, it is advisable to take lateral cephalometrics when considering the growth changes in the palatal vault using these reference points and planes.
