Cephalometric evaluation of white Brazilian adult skeleton.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to compare cephalometric norms of white Brazilian adults with the values described by Tweed, who measured white North American adults. Sexual dimorphism was also evaluated, and male and female facial features were compared.


METHODS
Samples were obtained from 40 lateral cephalograms and divided into groups of 20, according to patient's gender. The radiographs were analyzed using the computer-assisted Tweed cephalometric analysis and the 2.0 Radiocef software. Results were analyzed statistically using the Student's t test for genders and ethnicities. The level of significance was set at P< or =0.05.


RESULTS
The comparison with Tweed norms revealed that Brazilians have a convex profile and more marked labial tipping of mandibular incisors than North Americans. Sexual dimorphism was found only in linear measurements, which suggests that facial morphology is similar for Brazilian males and females.


CONCLUSIONS
Results revealed significant statistical differences in linear and angular cephalometric dimensions between different ethnic groups, which supports the idea that ethnicity should be included in cephalometric analyses.
Gerhardt De Oliveira
M
M
Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre, Brazil. mogerhardt@yahoo.com.br
Salim Silveira
V
V
Whemeyer Fregapani
P
P
Bocchese Gallo
T
T
D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil; D002508:Cephalometry; D003766:Dental Occlusion; D005006:Ethnicity; D005145:Face / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D012016:Reference Values; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012886:Skull / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D044465:White People; D055815:Young Adult