The comparison of soft and hard tissue cephalometric norms between normal female and male adults using NHO

Abstract

Estimated natural head position (NHO) has been introduced to make maximum use of advantages of natural head position (NHP) in cephalometric analysis. The present study aimed to provide cephalometric standards through the NHO method in males and females for Iranian normal adults and compare the two genders.Methods and Materials: Sixty lateral cephalometric radiographis (30 males and 30 females) of adult patients referring to Orthodontics Department of Tabriz Faculty of Dentistry were selected from the patients files, with inclusion criteria of class I skeletal and dental relationships, normal face and mild dental problems such as single tooth cross-bite. The radiographs of all the patients were prepared in the same center. The extra-cranial references by the method of NHO were outlined on the radiograghs and then provided using extra-cranial references (TH and TV) and compared between the two genders.Data were analyzed using SPSS 17 and descriptive statistical methods and t-test were used for statistical analysis . Statistical significances in this study was set at P < 0.05.Results: The standard cephalometric norms of hard and soft tissues were provided, using NHO method for adults in the two genders. The results of statistical analyseis with t-test for comparison of cephalometric standards between males and females showed that the amounts of upper incisor display, upper lip and inferior labial sulcus were significantly increased in males than females (P-Value < 0.05). Regarding the cephalometric standards of hard tissue, the results showed that anterior cranial base, maxillary protrusion, upper anterior facial height, lower anterior facial height, upper posterior facial height, mandibular ramus length, lower posterior dental height and mandibular body length were significantly increased in males than females (P – Value < 0.05).Conclusion: The results of this study showed that the cephalometric standards based on estimated natural head position (NHO) could be used with a little difference between males and female.