Maxillary growth during puberty determined by the implant method compared with cephalometry

Abstract

AIM: To compare maxillary growth estimates during puberty as determined by the ‘scientifi c method’ compared with three common cephalometric methods. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Nineteen subjects (7 girls, 12 boys), from the maxillary implant study of Björk and Skieller (1972). The records were obtained three years before puberty (T1), and three years after puberty (T3). Tracings between T1 and T3 were assessed and changes during puberty were calculated. The scientifi c method involved measuring the displacement of the most anterior implant inserted in the maxilla to determine the direction and amount of actual maxillary growth. Horizontal and vertical displacement of point A was assessed according to three cephalometric methods (Bergin et al., Hack et al. and Pancherz). The values obtained from absolute, horizontal and vertical displacement of point A with the scientifi c method with those from the three methods were compared. RESULTS: There were signifi cant differences between the assessments using the scientifi c method and the three other methods (P < 0.05). All three methods overestimated changes in maxillary positioning compared with the scientifi c method. There were signifi cant differences between the absolute displacement with the scientifi c method and the other three methods (P < 0.001). There was also a signifi cant difference between the horizontal and vertical displacement assessments of the scientifi c method and the other three methods (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Estimation of growth changes in maxillary positioning using the scientifi c method and common cephalometric methods were different. All the three cephalometric methods overestimated the growth changes in the maxilla.