Cephalometric norms of Saudi boys

I.A. Nashashibi, BDS, D.Ortho., RCS,
H.S. Shaikh, LDSCPS, BDS, MDS,
O.A. Sarhan, BDS, PhD
Department of Preventive Dental Sciences, King Saud University College of Dentistry, P.O. Box 60169, Riyadh 11545, Saudi Arabia

The present study was conducted to establish cephalometric norms of Saudi boys based on the Steiner's analysis, and to compare the results of the present study with similar studies conducted on other racial or ethnic groups. For this purpose, fifty-five healthy Saudi boys, with a mean age of 12.04 years, were selected from different schools of Riyadh. Female Saudis were not used for this study due to social restrictions with respect to the Kingdom's customs and traditions. Selection was made on the basis of normal occlusion, balanced and pleasing profile with no obvious facial asymmetry. None of the boys have undergone orthodontic treatment prior to this study. Lateral skull cephaiograms were taken and traced using a standardized technique. Each cephalogram was traced twice with a one week interval by the authors. All angular and linear measurements were calculated to the nearest 0.5 degree and 0.5 mm, respectively. Steiner's method of cephalometric analysis was used to establish cephalometric norms.

The result of the study demonstrated that the Saudi boys differed from other racial and ethnic groups in some skeletal and dental measurements. Generally, the Saudi boys revealed a more protrusive maxillary apical base and double dental protrusion.

Saudi Dental Journal 1990;2(2):52-57.