OBJECTIVETo study the growth characters of the craniofacial widths and then perusing its growth pattern.

METHODS26 adolescents with normal occlusions were selected. A posteroanterior cephalogram was taken for every subject at the same time each year for 6 successive years. Computer-aided cephalometrics was carried out.

RESULTS(1) From age 13 to 18, most items of the craniofacial widths were bigger in male than in female. With the increase of age, the items with gender differences keep stable, except the width of L-Anter, L-Ore and L-Nas. (2) Compare with the growth completion of the craniofacial widths in 18 years old, they had completed more than 92% in 13 years old, and the L-Eur, L-Anter, L-Lo, L-Max, L-UM and L-LM were almost complete as well. The growth completion quantity of L-Ore, L-Zyg, and L-Nas in female was larger than that in male. (3) The growth of L-Mas, L-Nas, and L-Zyg could keep on to the age of 18. The L-Max maitained stable in female after 13 years old, while there was a growth from age 13 to 17 in male. (4) From age 13 to 18, the tooth arch width kept stable, while the cusp of the lower canine tends to be converging.

CONCLUSIONThe present findings may aid orthodontists to make rational diagnosis and treatment planning.