Long face syndrome

Definition and treatment

One dental textbook defines long face syndrome as a dolicofacial condition with excess lower facial height, usually associated with lower occlusal and mandibular plane angles, and often with vertical maxillary excess and mandibular hypoplasia. A study of 31 adults with this syndrome, which included analysis of esthetics, skeletal morphology, and occlusion, confirmed the association with excessive vertical growth of the maxilla and identified closed bite and dental open as two variants. Treatment for young patients aims to halt and control descent of the lower jaw and prevent eruption of posterior teeth. In severe cases, a mixture of orthodontics and orthognathic surgery may be the only effective solution, and the long-term effectiveness of surgical treatments over more than six years has been studied. In the American literature, the terms long-face syndrome and short-face syndrome are often used, though Hugo Obwegeser argued there is no medical justification for naming them as a syndrome, as the signs and symptoms do not meet the definitional threshold. Controversy surrounds the use of the descriptor, with disagreement about potential environmental influences on genetic components. Anecdotally, it was said to be a genetic condition correctable only with massive amounts of debilitating dental and facial reconstructive surgery. In children, mouth breathing may contribute to its development, and it may also be associated with sleep apnea.