A new way to predict horizontal growth of maxilla and mandible in children of age 9 to 18 years using lateral cephalograms

Introduction: The aim of this study is to predict the horizontal growth of maxilla and mandible by using lateral cephalograms. Materials and Method: Lateral cephalograms of 30 skeletal class I patients (15 males and 15 females) were acquired from the records in Department of Orthodontics and named as Age group I - 9 to 11yrs. Lateral cephalograms of same patients requiring orthodontic treatment with minimal dental malocclusion were repeated at age 11 to 14yrs and at age 15 to 18yrs and named as Age group II and Age group III respectively. Lateral cephalograms were traced by only one examiner. The perpendicular was drawn from 70 up SN plane through point sella (S) downward to mandible. On this perpendicular line horizontal perpendiculars drawn from point A, point B and point Gnathion (Gn) to obtain point R, point G and point C respectively. Growth distance for maxilla – point R to point A, growth distance for mandible- point G to point B and point C to point Gn were measured and compared statistically. Results: Growth distance variables for maxilla and mandible compared between all three age groups were statistically highly significant. While comparing between males and females highly significant difference found only for maxillary growth variable i.e. point R to point A. Conclusions: Measuring Growth distance using lateral cephalograms can be used to predict horizontal growth of maxilla and mandible. Study on larger sample is required to test the accuracy of this growth prediction method.