Growth pattern of the mandible: some reflections.

The dynamics of the growth of bones is a complex process. The growth pattern of the mandible has been assessed by the application of various methods described for the study of the growth of bones. Some of these lend themselves primarily to basic experimental rather than clinical work. The use of any one of these methods will reveal certain information. With the use of two or more of them in combination, however, considerably more accurate information can be obtained. Since John Hunter's classical descriptions more than 200 years ago, advances in the understanding of the growth pattern of the mandible have been possible with the refinement of older methods and the development of newer ones. To date, serial cephalometric roentgenography in concert with radiopaque implants, which serve as fixed reliable markers, is the most accurate method to determine the growth pattern of the mandible. To this armamentarium, digital subtraction radiography, computerized tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging may be methods that will offer more detailed and accurate information.