Analysis of Average Horizontal and Vertical Mandibular Growth Components Relative to the Horizontal Plane as Determined from Cross-sectional Cephalometric Normal Standards

Objective: To provide some insight into annual horizontal and vertical components of mandibular growth. Material and Methods: The averaged growth data for the ages of 8 to 16 were garnered from an Atlas of craniofacial growth: Cephalometric standards from the university school growth study, the University of Michigan and organized into horizontal and vertical growth components utilizing trigonometry. Results: Considering the limitations of the data, during puberty it would seem the average horizontal growth vector of the mandible is approximately 1.5mm per year for females and 2mm/yr for males. The average vertical component of growth during puberty is approximately 2.8mm/yr for males and 1.5 mm/yr for females. Conclusion: The amount of horizontal growth may be overestimated and vertical growth underestimated with current use of growth along anatomic planes rather than relative to the horizontal or Frankfort plane.