Skeletal and soft-tissue changes in humans with untreated normal occlusion throughout lifetime: a systematic review

AbstractAge-related skeletal and soft-tissue changes are important in orthodontics, especially due to the increase of adult patients seeking treatment. The aim of this study is to assess the available evidence regarding age-related skeletal and soft-tissue changes in untreated Angle Class I. Articles studying skeletal and soft-tissue changes in orthodontically untreated subjects with Angle Class I and comparing them between age groups were included. Studies focusing on a single age group or in languages other than English were excluded. Risk of bias was assessed with both the MINORS and ROBINS-I tools. 50 studies were included, showing high methodological heterogeneity and a lack of information in subjects over 60  years old. In subjects with Angle Class I, the mandibular plane inclination was reported to reduce from 7 and 20 years old, while the anterior and posterior facial height continue to increase in late adult life. The anterior cranial base length increases until 20 years old, afterwards decreasing slowly until late adulthood. Nasal width increases and the nasolabial angle decreases during adolescence. Upper lip length and lower lip length increase from 6 to 18 years along with retrusion of the lips in late adulthood. Age-related skeletal and soft-tissue changes are documented in the literat ure from childhood until the fifth decade of life, but studies mostly focus on subjects until 20 years old. Changes after the second decade of life are studied only for the v...

Source: Odontology - November 9, 2022 Category: Dentistry Source Type: research