In a 1972 article by George Schudy¹ he states, "with regard to the future of the treated case, it seems that if the treatment is as ideal as possible, post treatment growth has every chance of being a great ally to the function of the stomatognothic system, and consequently to the Orthodontist."

In the same article Schudy has just pointed out that the average vertical condylar growth is about the same in both the high and low angle groups (5.56 mm and 5.51 mm respectively). Then he makes a very astute observation. He states, "Pogonion moved forward 3.80 mm in the low angle group and 3.92 in the high angle group. The mechanism of forward positioning of the chin in the two facial types must have been quite different.

Each group had one factor that tended to complement anterior movement of pogonion and one antagonist to such movement. In the low angle group the protagonist was a smaller increase in anterior facial height and the antagonist was the greater decrease in the gonion angle (emphasis added). In the high angle group the greater amount of horizontal condylar growth (emphasis added) was the protagonist, with the antagonist being the greater amount of anterior facial height."

To my knowledge, this is the first time in orthodontic history that anyone has associated the reduction of the gonion angle with anterior positioning of pogonion. In 1986 Coben² discussed the relationship of the ramus axis to forward positioning of pogonion.

This post treatment study of 72 subjects is probably one of the better studies that has been reported. This research study is one of the most important studies for the clinical orthodontist which has ever been reported. It has uncovered more biological truths than any of which I am aware. I say this unabashedly.

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Bibliography

¹Schudy, George F., D.D.S., M.S., A Longitudinal Cephalometric Study of Post Treatment Craniofacial Growth: Its Implications in Orthodontic Treatment, Am. J. Orthod., 1974; 65:39.

²Coben, Eugene S., D.D.S., M.S., Basion Horizontal. The Benson, Jenkintown, Pa. 1986.

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