[Cephalometric study of cranio-facial growth of 902 Black African children and adolescents aged 8 to 20]. / Etude céphalométrique de la croissance crânio-faciale de 902 enfants et adolescents mélano-africains agés de 8 a 20 ans.

ABSTRACT

Cephalometric studies of the growth are numerous and represent a contribution to the field of the anthropological knowledge of the stages of the cranio-facial growth and for a better adaptation of the orthodontic treatments. However, in Black Africa people there are very few studies of this kind. The purpose of this investigation is to analyze the growth of the cranial base, the maxillary skeletal region and mandibular skeletal region at the young African subjects. The sample of study consists of 386 girls and 516 boys in period of growth, old from 8 to 20 years, presumedly orthomorphic and having lateral cephalometric radiograph in occlusion. The statistical analysis of the data recorded on the layouts cephalometric (test U of Mann Whitney) announces the existence of a sexual dimorphism which is strongly significant around 9 years, 11 years and 17 years. Maxilla and mandible present different rates of growth while remaining active up to 20 years but the growth of the base of cranium seems to be stabilized earlier, after 11 years. The taking into account of these morphological variations are determining for the conduit of treatments more stable and adapted to our populations.