Facial Morphology In Children Research Articles

Facial morphology analysis of children with non-syndromic cleft lip and palate in a local population.

To study the facial morphology in children with non-syndromic cleft lip and palate by applying numerical facial analysis on photographs for planning and evaluating treatment outcomes. This descriptive study was conducted from March 2020 to July 2020 in the Department of Oral Pathology, University of Health Sciences and Cleft Lip and Palate Hospital, Lahore Pakistan. A total of 104 patients of both genders with an age range from three months to thirteen years were included. Photographs of the participants were taken to measure facial anthropometrical landmarks including facial height, nose width, mouth width and inter canthal distance. The association between facial measurements with gender and phenotype and across age groups were computed keeping the confidence level at 95%. Mean age of the children was 72.43±44.2 months with slight male predominance. Thirty-one percent presented with bilateral cleft lip and palate followed by unilateral cleft lip and plate. Total mean facial height, nose width and mouth width were found to be 143.46±21.52mm, 32.24±5.03mm and 33.71±4.38mm respectively. Intercanthal distance was measured to be 31.04±5.99mm. Statistically significant association was observed between gender and facial height, nose width, mouth width and Intercanthal distance. Facial anthropometric measures done on frontal photographs can be used to identify the facial landmarks in children with non-syndromic cleft lip and palate in low resource stings that may help surgeons in getting better aesthetic outcomes. These landmarks vary between ethnic groups therefore these should be specific to a particular race and ethnicity so as to ensure proper aesthetics and improved quality of life for the children of all nations.

A preliminary investigation of the effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on facial morphology in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Alcohol exposure during pregnancy has been associated with altered brain development and facial dysmorphology. While Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is not specifically related to distinct facial phenotypes, recent studies have suggested certain facial characteristics such as increased facial masculinity and asymmetry may be associated with ASD and its clinical presentations. In the present study, we conducted a preliminary investigation to examine facial morphology in autistic children with (n=37; mean age=8.21 years, SD=2.72) and without (n=100; mean age=8.37 years, SD=2.47) prenatal alcohol exposure. Using three-dimensional facial scans and principal component analysis, we identified a facial shape associated with prenatal alcohol exposure in autistic children. However, variations in the alcohol-related facial shape were generally not associated with behavioral and cognitive outcomes. These findings suggest that while early exposure to alcohol may influence the development of facial structures, it does not appear to be associated with ASD phenotypic variability. Importantly, although these findings do not implicate a role for prenatal alcohol exposure in the etiology of ASD, further research is warranted to investigate the link between prenatal alcohol exposure and facial morphology differences among neurodevelopmental conditions.

3D Facial morphology in children affected by spinal muscular atrophy type 2 (SMAII).

The main objective of this study was to assess the three-dimensional facial characteristics of children affected by spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a severe muscular disorder characterized by hypotonia, areflexia, weakness, and respiratory impairment. Stereophotogrammetric facial scans from 22 SMA type II patients aged 2-7 years were obtained. Data were analysed using both inter-landmark distances and principal component analysis and compared with data collected from matched control subjects. Patients had wider transverse facial diameters, but smaller biocular width. Middle and lower anterior face heights were increased, whereas the mandibular ramus was shorter, with a reduced posterior-to-anterior face height ratio. Facial width-to-length ratio was reduced. In the sagittal plane, mandibular body length, and facial divergence were increased, whereas the gonial angles were decreased. In the horizontal plane, lower facial convexity was greater in patients, whereas mandibular convexity was smaller. Patients had smaller and down-slanted eye fissures, with a larger and more vertically developed nose. This study assessed a relatively small number of patients, due to the rare frequency of SMA type II. SMA type II children possess peculiar facial alterations that may be due to the altered muscular activity. As feeding problems may derive also by malocclusion and masticatory muscular alterations, a detailed assessment of the craniofacial individual alterations should be considered in the standards of care of these patients.

Three-dimensional assessment of facial morphology in children and adolescents with juvenile idiopathic arthritis and moderate to severe TMJ involvement using 3D surface scans.

This study aims to (1) assess the facial morphology in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) subjects with moderate to severe temporomandibular joint (TMJ) involvement using 3D surface scans and (2) compare the facial morphology in these subjects to that in JIA subjects without TMJ involvement. Sixty JIA subjects were included and grouped as follows: group 1 (no involvement group), JIA without TMJ involvement; Group 2 (unilateral group), JIA with moderate to severe unilateral TMJ involvement; and group 3 (bilateral group), JIA with bilateral TMJ involvement. Standard orientation of all surfaces was accomplished. The means and variabilities of facial morphology in groups 2 and 3 were assessed and compared with those of group 1 in three dimensions, respectively. Group 2 (unilateral group) exhibited a more retruded and wider chin, shorter mandibular height, and more prominent cheek (2, 2, 5, and 2mm, on average, respectively) on the affected side and a more retruded and narrower chin and more prominent malar region (4, 3, and 2mm, on average, respectively) on the unaffected side compared with group 1 (no involvement group) (p < 0.05). Group 3 (bilateral group) exhibited a more retruded chin, shorter mandibular height, more prominent upper cheeks, and narrower perioral region (5, 5, 3, and 2mm, respectively) compared with group 1 (no involvement group) (p < 0.05). In JIA subjects with moderate to severe unilateral or bilateral TMJ involvement, the affected side(s) revealed similar facial dysmorphology with reduced mandibular height, chin retrusion, and prominent upper cheek. Three-dimensional surface scans can be a non-ionizing indicator of signs of TMJ involvement in JIA subjects.

Three dimensional analysis of the upper airway and facial morphology in children with Class II malocclusion using cone-beam computed tomography

Three dimensional analysis of the upper airway and facial morphology in children with Class II malocclusion using cone-beam computed tomography

Three-dimensional analysis of facial morphology surface changes in untreated children from 12 to 14 years of age

The developing face is of interest to orthodontists, especially if orthodontic treatment can influence the outcome of facial growth. New 3-dimensional (3D) modalities have enabled clinicians to better understand the facial changes in a developing child. Fifty-nine children with normal body mass indexes were evaluated with a previously validated 3D laser imaging device over a 2-year period. Surface changes were evaluated on normal and average faces. These changes were seen as mean surface changes and color maps. The results suggest that the surface areas of change in average faces were generally downward and forward with respect to the nose and soft-tissue nasion. The lips also translated in a downward direction as the nose grew, and there was a general increase in the vertical dimension. Some subjects were in the "great changes" category, boys significantly more so than girls. The following conclusions can be made from this 3D study of changes of facial morphology in children: (1) surface changes are greater in boys than in girls; (2) differences in the timing of surface changes in boys and girls are clinically significant, with boys exhibiting more changes later; (3) positive surface changes occur in the nose, brows, lips, and vertical dimensions of the face; (4) the eyes deepen, and the cheeks become flatter; and (5) 3D imaging is a useful tool in analyzing changes to the face over time.

The feasibility of measuring three‐dimensional facial morphology in children

An investigation to determine the feasibility of measuring soft tissue morphology in children using a three-dimensional laser-scanning device. Prospective clinical trial. University of Wales, College of Medicine and one secondary school in the South Wales region. Sixty live subjects (30 adults, 30 children) were recruited in the study. Laser scanned images of the subjects were obtained under a reproducible and controlled environment with two Minolta Vivid 900 (Osaka, Japan) optical laser-scanning devices assembled as a stereo-pair. A set of left and right scanned images was taken for each subject and each scan took an average of 2.5 s. These scanned images were processed and merged to form a composite three-dimensional soft tissue reproduction of the subjects using commercially available reverse modelling software. The shell deviations between left and right scan of each patient were recorded and analysed for differences. These differences determined whether the subjects could remain still during the time of the scans. The results showed that the mean differences between shell deviations for the adult scans and children scans were 0.25 +/- 0.09 and 0.30 +/- 0.09 mm, respectively. Paired t-tests showed that the mean error between subject groups was 0.05 +/- 0.15 mm indicating that there was no difference between the two subject groups (p = 0.18). The technique as described is clinically reproducible for children and adults and can be used for studies assessing facial changes due to growth or clinical intervention.

Early craniofacial morphology and growth in children with nonsyndromic Robin Sequence.

Craniofacial morphology and growth comparisons in children with untreated nonsyndromic Robin Sequence (RS) and a control group with unilateral incomplete cleft lip (UICL) in which the lip was surgically closed at 2 months of age. The 52 children (7 RS and 45 UICL) included in the study were drawn from a group representing all Danish cleft children born 1976 through 1981. The ages of the children were 2 and 22 months at the time of examination 1 and 2, respectively. The method of investigation was three-projection cephalometry. Craniofacial morphology was analyzed by means of linear, angular, and area variables. Growth at a specific anatomical location in a patient was defined as the displacement vector from the coordinate of the corresponding landmark at examination 1 to its coordinate at examination 2. The most striking findings in the RS group were markedly increased posterior maxillary width, increased width of the nasal cavity, short maxilla with reduced posterior height, short mandible, bimaxillary retrognathia, and severe reduction in size of the pharyngeal airway. The amount of facial growth was similar in the two groups; however, a tendency toward a more vertical growth direction was observed in the RS group. Facial morphology in children with RS differed significantly from that of children with UICL at both 2 and 22 months of age. The magnitude of facial growth was similar in the two groups, whereas a tendency toward a more vertical facial growth direction was observed in the RS group.

Craniofacial morphology in children with cystic fibrosis.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a hereditary metabolic disorder with clinical symptoms of abnormal mucus production. This blocks the airways, gives pancreatic insufficiency, and increases sweat electrolytes. The progressive respiratory disease often leads to respiratory insufficiency and cor pulmonale. The aim of the present investigation was to examine the facial morphology in children with cystic fibrosis. The sample comprised 11 children with cystic fibrosis, who were divided in two groups, one with gastrointestinal disorders and the other with predominantly respiratory insufficiency. Eleven healthy children with normal occlusions were selected as controls. Lateral skull radiographs obtained in natural head posture were digitized, and linear and angular variables for the different groups calculated and compared statistically. The cystic fibrosis group showed open bite, decreased posterior facial height, increased mandibular and craniocervical inclination. Additionally, within the CF-group, the children with respiratory insufficiency differed more from the controls than the children with gastrointestinal disorders. Despite the small number of subjects, the facial morphology of the CF children showed a similar pattern to that of children with nasal respiratory obstruction due to enlarged adenoids or tonsils.

An electromyographic and cephalometric study on facial pains and facial morphology in children.

Twelve children, five girls and seven boys with a mean age of 12 years, exercised maximal voluntary tooth clenching until intolerable pains and total subjective exhaustion of at least the right masseter muscle forced the children to stop the isometric muscle exercise; that is, the pain tolerance, or the isometric endurance time, of at least the right masseter muscle was determined in seconds, and it amounted to an average of 100 s. Concomitantly, the electrical activity in the right masseter muscle was recorded by bipolar surface electrodes and integrated, and it showed a significant decrease of 32% during the endurance test, probably as an expression of progressive physiological muscle fatigue. A large ANB angle was associated with relatively little decline of the contractile activity and a trend not to endure pains, possibly because isometric tension was generated predominantly by muscle fibres with a high anaerobic capacity.

Variation of the range of movement of the mandible in relation to facial morphology in children

Abstract— Maximal opening capacity of the mouth, maximal protrusion, and lateral movement of the mandible were correlated with the morphology of the face as seen in profile radiographs. The material consisted of 56 boys and 53 girls aged 10 years 4 months on the average. The results of the investigation indicate that the range of movement of the mandible is small in persons with a rectangular face while it is large in persons with a triangular face with the temporo‐mandibular joints situated far posteriorly. The calculation of multiple correlation coefficients showed that one‐fourth to one‐half of the interindividual variations in range of movement can be explained by differences between facial types. The opening capacity and lateral movement of the mandible varied conspicuously with facial morphology as did mandibular protrusion, though somewhat less.