Soft-tissue cephalometric norms for a sample of Iraqi adults with class I normal occlusion in natural head position

الملخص EN

Background : The purposes of this study were to establish the cephalometric norms for Iraqi adults with normal occlusion and well-balanced faces for both genders using Arnett et al.

(1) analysis, to establish the mean values of (the dentoskeletal factor, the soft tissues structures, the facial length, true vertical line (TVL) projection and the harmony values measurements) and to verify the existence of gender difference Materials and methods : 60 Iraqi adult subjects (30 males and 30 females) with an age ranged between 18-25 years having normal occlusion and well-balanced face were chosen for this study.

Each individual was subjected to clinical examination and digital true lateral cephalometric X-ray in the natural head position which is mirror position in which the patient looking straight into his eyes into the mirror mounted on the stand.

The radiographs were analyzed using AutoCAD program 2007 to measure the distances and angles used in the Soft Tissue Cephalometric Analysis.

Descriptive statistics was obtained for the measured variables for both genders and independent- samples t-test was performed to evaluate the genders difference.

Results and conclusions : The results indicated that: females have high mean value of the angle between the maxillary occlusal plane and TVL, increase in upper lip angle more than males.

The males have thicker upper and lower lips, more soft tissue chin thicknesses, higher mean value of the facial height, lower third of the face height, upper and lower lip length, mandibular height, the projection of the maxillary and mandibular central incisor crown tip, soft tissue B and A, nasal tip projection on the TVL and backward position of point Pog΄ and point B΄ than female.