Arnett's Soft-tissue Cephalometric Analysis Norms for the North Indian Population: A Cephalometric Study

Abstract

Objective: To determine the soft-tissue cephalometric norms as per Arnett’s analysis for male and female subjects of North Indian population and to compare these cephalometric norms with Arnett’s norms for Caucasian population. Materials and methods: Frontal and profile photographs of 150 subjects with normal occlusion and pleasing profile were rated by a panel of judges, from which 50-male and 50-female subjects were selected and their lateral cephalograms were taken for the present study. Arnett’s soft-tissue cephalometric analysis (STCA) was done on these cephalograms using Nemotech cephalometric software. Mean values of various parameters were obtained and these values were compared to Arnett’s norms for Caucasian population using Student t-test. These values were also compared among males and females of North Indian population. Results: High overjet, thicker soft-tissue, less facial length, retruded lower face and midface and convex profile were observed in the North Indian population as compared to Caucasian population. Males of North Indian population have thicker soft-tissue structures, more acute nasolabial angle, longer faces and more deep-set facial structures than females whereas females have greater interlabial gap and maxillary incisor exposure. Conclusion: Statistically significant differences in certain parameters were found between North Indian population and Caucasian population and also between males and females of North Indian population.