Analysis of facial growth in subjects with syndromic ectodermal dysplasia: a longitudinal analysis

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To examine the craniofacial growth pattern of patients diagnosed with syndromic ectodermal dysplasia. DESIGN: Mixed longitudinal analysis of lateral cephalograms. SETTING: The data were analysed using a multilevel modelling technique with the MLwiN application software and the results presented numerically and graphically. SAMPLE POPULATION: All 61 subjects had severe hypodontia with the number of absent teeth (excluding third molars) ranging from 6 to 28 (mean = 15.4). At presentation the subjects had a mean age of 133 months and were followed longitudinally for between one and five subsequent occasions (mean 2.66 occasions; mean age at completion of observation 207 months). OUTCOME MEASURES: Lateral cephalograms taken at each visit. EXPERIMENTAL VARIABLES: Analysis of four angular measurements and four linear measurements, together with one calculated ratio. RESULTS: Growth curves are presented showing the trends of craniofacial growth. CONCLUSIONS: The most significant findings were for a universal tendency for the individuals to undergo a change in sagittal relationship of the jaws, becoming markedly more Class III with time. We have also demonstrated a significant difference in growth between the anterior and posterior face heights indicating that the subjects have a tendency to an anterior growth rotation.