Tracing the transformation: A comprehensive review of craniofacial growth from childhood to adulthood (5-25 Years)

Craniofacial growth from early childhood to young adulthood (ages 5 to 25) encompasses a critical developmental phase that shapes the facial skeleton, dental arches, and soft tissue contours. These changes occur in well-defined stages influenced by genetic patterns, hormonal shifts, and environmental modifiers. Orthodontists must understand these processes to guide treatment timing, manage growth imbalances, and achieve stable, esthetic, and functional outcomes. This comprehensive article integrates fundamental growth concepts with in-depth, age-specific changes in hard and soft tissue morphology, presenting clinical implications essential for growth-based orthodontic intervention.