Description

Facial Growth pattern determines the direction of growth of the mandible and is dependent on the rate of growth in the condylar, sutural and alveolar regions. When growth in the posterior face (condylar growth) is in equilibrium with growth in the anterior face (growth in the facial sutures and alveolar region) the result is a parallel growth displacement leading to average growth pattern. Besides genetic influence, a face with normodivergent or average growth pattern can change into a hypo or hyperdivergent pattern due to environmental and epigenetic influences. The vertical dimension of malocclusion is exhibited as open bite and deep bite and often difficult to treat. It affects the lower third of the face and affectsthe esthetic value negatively. Hyperdivergent growth pattern is frequently associated with retrogenia and hypodivergent with progenia. Skeletal open bite is concomitant with vertical and deep bite with horizontal growth pattern. Growth pattern is not only a factor in the development of malocclusion but also plays an important role in treatment planning and post treatment retention.