Abstract
Caucasian norms derived from the European-American population are often applied in the diagnosis and treatment planning of Saudi orthodontic patients. Minor differences in cephalometric values can be considered routine and normal, but significant differences indicate a structural deviation. The objective of this study was to establish the cephalometric norms of normal and pleasant soft tissue profiles of adult Saudi living in the Najran region of Saudi Arabia and compare them with the Eastman standards derived from the Caucasian population. A total of 60 lateral cephalometric radiographs (30 males and 30 females) of Najran adults aged between 18-30 years with pleasing, acceptable, harmonious and well-balanced soft tissue profile and Class I molar relationship with no history of previous orthodontic treatment, no crowding or spacing, normal overjet and overbite were selected for the study. Descriptive analysis and Student t-test were performed to evaluate the male and female gender differences and compare the Najran mean with Eastman standards. On evaluating the gender differences, Najran females tend to have more ANB angle and L1 to A-Pog linear distance than Najran males(p<0.05). On comparing with the Eastman Caucasian standards, the Najran population tends to have more SNA, ANB, UI to MxP and L1 to A-Pog (p<0.05). The U1 to L1 angle tends to be less in Najran population than the Caucasians (p<0.05). The Najran population has more protrusive skeletal bases, bimaxillary protrusion, more proclined upper and lower incisors and reduced interincisal angle than Caucasians. The Najran females have more protrusive skeletal bases and more proclined lower incisors compared to Najran males. The cephalometric findings of this study can be useful in the diagnosis and treatment planning of orthodontic patients belonging to the Najran region of Saudi Arabia.