Description

Most of the craniofacial growth studies are cross-sectional in nature and provided a large number of cephalometric standards for males and females at different ages and for various ethnic groups. Variations in craniofacial Morphology exist between different ethnic and racial groups. The cephalometric standards developed for one ethnic group need not apply to other ethnic groups - the racial groups must be dealt according to their own characteristics. Limited number of longitudinal or semi-longitudinal studies has been reported for Indian population. A Rural residential Free school at Suttur, were all inmates are provided a similar nutrition and they share same environment and no racial mixing provide an ideal place to do a longitudinal study. The results obtained from such study provide information regarding craniofacial growth changes. Hence this study was designed to evaluate, lateral cephalometric craniofacial changes between 11 to 14 years of age, and also to evaluate possible differences between genders.