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Craniofacial complex is influenced by numerical skeletal elements. Though the analysis of growth change has been done by various analytical methods, it was dependent on any method of registration and superimposition, based on reference plane and reference point. However, the craniofacial growth is composed of a number of local growth elements. Therefore, it will be necessary to use a clinically useful method for estimating craniofacial skeletal growth independently. The author analysed longitudinal cephalometric roentgenogram of 15 Korean males and 15 Korean females aged from 6 to 12 years by the finite element method and results were as follows: 1. The finite element method for craniofacial skeletal complex and soft tissue made it possible to analyze the independent local growth. 2. Regression equations from the value of each strain will make it possible to predict the craniofacial growth. 3. The growth of anterior cranial base was different from that of other facial bone. 4. The growth of posterior cranial base influenced the growth of upper pharyngeal region, midfacial region, maxilla and posterior region of mandible. 5. The growth of maxillary complex was vertical rather than horizontal. 6. The growth direction of ramus, mandibular body, alveolar bone was various. 7. The relation between hard tissue and soft tissue by finite element method was variant.
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