Dentofacial growth changes in subjects with untreated Class II malocclusion from late puberty through young adulthood.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this longitudinal study was to compare dentofacial growth changes in untreated subjects with Class II Division 1 malocclusion with those in subjects with normal (Class I) occlusion from late puberty through young adulthood.


METHODS
The Class II Division 1 sample consisted of 23 subjects (10 male, 13 female). The Class I sample included 30 subjects (13 male, 17 female). The lateral cephalograms of the subjects in both groups were analyzed at 2 consecutive stages of development: T1, postpubertal observation (cervical vertebral maturation stage 6), and T2, young adulthood stage. The average time between T1 and T2 was 3.5 years. The statistical comparisons of the growth changes in the 2 groups were performed with Mann-Whitney U tests.


RESULTS
From late puberty through young adulthood, dentofacial growth in subjects with untreated Class II malocclusion does not show significant differences when compared with that observed in untreated subjects with normal occlusion.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings show that Class II dentoskeletal disharmony does not exhibit significant growth change from late puberty through young adulthood.
Baccetti
Tiziano
T
Department of Orthodontics, University of Florence, Florence, Italy. t.baccetti@odonto.unifi.it
Stahl
Franka
F
McNamara
James A
JA
D000293:Adolescent; D000365:Age Determination by Skeleton; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D002508:Cephalometry / Q000379:methods; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000254:growth & development; D002680:Chin / Q000254:growth & development; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007180:Incisor / Q000473:pathology; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008311:Malocclusion, Angle Class I / Q000503:physiopathology; D008312:Malocclusion, Angle Class II / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008334:Mandible / Q000254:growth & development; D008437:Maxilla / Q000254:growth & development; D008445:Maxillofacial Development / Q000502:physiology*; D008963:Molar / Q000473:pathology; D009295:Nasal Bone / Q000254:growth & development; D011627:Puberty / Q000502:physiology*; D012658:Sella Turcica / Q000254:growth & development; D019291:Skull Base / Q000254:growth & development; D055815:Young Adult