Craniofacial development related head posture, age and gender

Objectives: The aims of this work are to establish the pattern of alterations in the craniofacial skeleton regarding age and gender, as well as the relation between posture of the head and craniofacial morphology.

Material e methods: The sample is composed by 23 children, 11 girls and 12 boys. Cephalometric lateral radiographs in the natural head position (mirror position and self balance head position) have been taken before orthodontic treatment.

Results: The present research shows that the anterior facial height in boys and height of the mandibular ramus in girls are the measures that show the higher differences regarding the increasing age (p≤0,05). The length of the anterior cranial base has been measured and shows the most significant difference between girls and boys within the same age range (p≤0,05). Moreover, the results of this study suggest that subjects with facial retrognathism exhibit extension of the head in relation to the cervical column and to the true vertical line, backward-inclined odontoid process, backward-inclined cervical column and larger curvature of cervical column (increased cervical lordosis). On the other hand, subjects with facial prognathism exhibit flexion of the head in relation to the cervical column and the true vertical line, forward-inclined odontoid process, forward-inclined cervical column and upright position of cervical column (decreased cervical lordosis).

Conclusion: The findings support the theory of a functional influence on craniofacial morphogenesis, related in this case particularly to the effect of head posture.