Crescimento facial espontaneo Padr？o II: estudo cefalométrico longitudinal

aim: the current longitudinal cephalometric study investigated the spontaneous alterations in growing class ii, division 1, pattern ii patients. methods: forty children (twenty boys and twenty girls) with ages ranging between 6 and 14 years were selected to comprise the sample. the behavior of the apical bases, incisors and facial profile was evaluated on the basis of the following cephalometric measurements: sn.ba, sna, snb, snd, sn.pog, anb, nap, sn.gogn, sn.pp, sn.gn, ar.go.gn, 1.pp, 1.na, 1.sn, impa and nasolabial angle. the following measurements were statistically significant along growth: snb, snd, sn.pog, anb, nap, sn.gogn, sn.gn, ar.go.gn and impa. results: the results showed that the main quantitative alterations were related to mandibular growth, regardless of gender. the mandible was anteriorly displaced and tended to present a counter-clockwise rotation and consequent decrease in the facial convexity angles. however, the quantitative changes in the cephalometric measurements were not sufficient to change the dentofacial morphology during the follow-up period. conclusion: therefore, facial morphology seems to be defined early and does not change along growth.