POSTNATAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE UPPER JAW

Abstract

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Background. Postnatal development of upper jaw is complicated process highly influenced by teeth eruption and sinus development. Aim. The aim of our study was to elucidate dynamics of this process and investigatechanges in dimensions of different parts of upper jaw. Material and Methods. In our study we used 255 maxillae (age range: birth-30y) from skull collection of Institute of Anatomy. We measured longitudinal (A1=maximal bone length; A2=orbital surface length; A3=palatine process length), transversal (B1=maximal bone width; B2=palatine process width) and vertical (C1=maximal bone height; C2=orbital margin-alveolar edge; C3=infraorbital foramen-alveolar edge; C4=anterior nasal spine-alveolar edge) dimensions using caliper. For each dimension growth index (adult dimension/dimension at birth) was calculated. Results and Discussion. All measured dimensions increased linearly till the end of puberty but they didn’t increase at the same rate. Growth rates for all dimensions were similar in the first year of life but after that period growth rates of vertical dimensions became much higher compared to those of longitudinal and transversal dimensions. The highest growth index was observed for vertical dimensions (C3=3.37; C2=3.19; C4=2.6; C1=2.57)while for the other dimensions growth index was moderate (between 1.79 and 1.97). Conclusions. During postnatal development of upper jaw there is biggest increase in vertical dimensions while longitudinal and transversal dimensions increase at almost the same rate. The increase in vertical dimensions growth rate after the first year of life correlates with the teeth eruption and maxillary sinus pneumatization. Understandingnormal development of maxilla is important in maxillofacial surgery and diagnosis of upper jaw malformations.