Background/Objectives: This retrospective longitudinal study analyzed height growth velocity (GV) across skeletal maturity indicator (SMI) intervals in Korean adolescents with skeletal Class II malocclusion to identify the timing and duration of peak height velocity (PHV) and to define a PHV window relevant to growth-modification treatment. Methods: Sixty patients (30 males, 30 females) were followed for at least six years with serial hand-wrist radiographs and height records. GV was calculated for each SMI interval, defined as the period between adjacent SMI stages. In females, the timing of menarche by SMI stage was also recorded. Results: GV increased with skeletal maturation and was greatest at the SMI 5–6 interval in both sexes. In males, GV was already high at SMI 4–5 and did not differ significantly from that at SMI 5–6, whereas in females GV remained high at SMI 6–7 and did not differ significantly from that at SMI 5–6. In all female subjects, menarche occurred after PHV and coincided with growth deceleration. GV declined markedly after SMI 7–8, with minimal growth beyond SMI 11. Conclusions: These findings indicate that the PHV window spans SMI 4–6 in males and SMI 5–7 in females, suggesting that growth-modification therapy may achieve optimal outcomes when initiated within these stages. Because this study evaluated height rather than maxillomandibular growth and individual variation persists, SMI stage alone cannot define PHV, and additional assessments of growth are required when determining the timing of orthopedic intervention.

This study aimed to determine whether there are relationships between vertical facial patterns, cervical posture, and cervical curvature types. Ninety-two adult females with skeletal Class I relationships were retrospectively analyzed and divided into hypodivergent, normovergent, and hyperdivergent groups based on the mandibular plane angle to the nasion–sella line. Variables representing craniocervical posture (sagittal vertical axis, SVA; cervical inclination angle, CIA) and cervical curvature were measured. Differences in craniocervical posture among the groups were assessed. Cervical curvatures were classified into lordotic, straight, kyphotic, or sigmoid categories. The distribution of cervical curvature types among the groups was compared, and correlations between vertical facial patterns, craniocervical postures, and cervical curvature measurements were calculated. The results indicated that the hyperdivergent group exhibited increased SVA and decreased CIA compared to the normovergent and hypodivergent groups. Significant differences in cervical curvature types were observed among the groups. Lordotic curvature was most common in the normovergent group, while straight curvature was predominant in the hypodivergent and hyperdivergent groups. A significant correlation was found between an increased mandibular plane angle and a forward head position (increased SVA and decreased CIA). In conclusion, there are relationships between vertical facial patterns, cervical posture, and cervical curvature types. Therefore, careful assessment of craniocervical posture and cervical curvature is necessary in lateral cephalograms for orthodontic evaluation. However, cervical curvature measurements show minimal correlation with the mandibular plane angle.

Objective: To compare ClinCheck‐predicted and achieved maxillary occlusal contact areas immediately after an initial 14‐aligner anterior segmental sequence without programmed posterior movement. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included 31 adult women treated with 14 maxillary and mandibular clear aligners. Bilateral first premolars through second molars were digitally locked. Predicted stage‐14 models and intraoral scans obtained immediately after aligner 14 and before refinement were assessed at maximum intercuspation. Contact regions at 0.00‐mm clearance were quantified with ImageJ. The primary outcome was the patient‐level total posterior achieved‐minus‐predicted difference. Tooth‐type differences were analysed using patient‐clustered generalized estimating equations with Holm adjustment; bite‐ramp comparisons were exploratory. Results: Predicted and achieved total posterior areas were 63.71 ± 36.56 and 30.30 ± 18.26 mm ² , respectively (mean difference, −33.41 mm ² ; 95% CI, −44.42 to −22.40; p < 0.001). After Holm adjustment, the achieved central‐incisor area was 0.49 mm ² greater than predicted ( p = 0.003), whereas areas were smaller at the first premolars, second premolars, first molars, and second molars by 3.09, 5.44, 11.46, and 13.42 mm ² , respectively (adjusted p ≤ 0.016). Lateral‐incisor and canine differences were not significant. Bite‐ramp groups did not differ significantly. Conclusion: After 14 aligners, the achieved posterior contact area was substantially smaller than predicted despite no programmed posterior movement. This early discrepancy supports direct evaluation of posterior contacts before refinement.