Assessing growth and development of the facial profile.

The study of growth and development of the facial profile is of interest to clinicians and researchers in the fields of pediatric dentistry, orthodontics, and craniofacial surgery, enabling diagnosis, planning, and evaluation of treatment. Until recently, craniofacial studies addressed facial growth, facial asymmetry, and gender differences by examining changes in size. However, size changes alone do not represent fully the complicated process of craniofacial growth which also involves changes in shape. The shape of the facial profile can now be quantified with Fourier analysis, contributing to a better understanding of growth. A combination of recently developed methods, such as 3-dimensional facial morphometry and Fourier analysis, should allow a more comprehensive knowledge of growth and development of the craniofacial structures, including the facial profile. This article examines various methods for assessing facial growth and development currently available with particular reference to the facial profile, and addresses the value of Fourier analysis in assessing shape changes.