title: Growth and development considerations for craniomaxillofacial surgery.
abstract: The purpose of craniomaxillofacial surgery is to improve function, occlusion, craniofacial balance, and aesthetics. Accurate diagnosis, assessment, and careful treatment planning are essential in achieving a successful outcome, and an understanding of the pattern of facial growth is integral in this process. Patients with craniofacial congenital dysmorphologies, posttraumatic asymmetries, or disturbances of facial balance from radiation may have functional and/or aesthetic issues that require treatment. Understanding the complexities of growth in the skull and face is a key component to appropriate treatment planning for these disorders. This article reviews growth and development in the craniofacial skeleton.
authors.affiliation: Division of Craniofacial and Cleft Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine, 3501 Terrace Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA. bjcl@pitt.edu
authors.forename: Bernard J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Costello
authors.forename: Reynaldo D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Rivera
authors.forename: Jocelyn
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shand
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mooney
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019465:Craniofacial Abnormalities / Q000145:classification / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D004954:Esthetics; D005151:Facial Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008445:Maxillofacial Development; D009970:Orthodontics; D012307:Risk Factors; D012886:Skull / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000254:growth & development; D013043:Specialties, Surgical; D013515:Surgery, Oral / Q000379:methods*