Anterior vertical incremental facial growth: its effects in class II treatment.

ABSTRACT

The present study shed some light on the anterior incremental vertical growth rates of the face. Both girls' and boys' upper and lower faces were studied starting four years before the presence of the adductor sesamoid of the thumb and stopping two years after closure of the distal epiphysis of the second digit. Examples of the treatment of Class II, Division I mal-occlusions using orthopedic (cervical headgear) forces during the skeletal age period studied were shown. The reactions of vertical changes of the maxilla along with those of the mandible were demonstrated. The clinical responses of both maxilla and mandible should be predictable if skeletal age is used in treatment planning.