Cephalometric norms for orthognathic surgery in North Indian population using Nemoceph software.

Background: Cephalometric norms, useful in providing guidance to orthodontist during diagnosis and treatment planning are subjected to variability in morphologic characteristics in different ethnic and racial groups, hence norms established for one population group are not applicable for all.

Aims And Objectives: To compare and correlate the established hard tissue cephalometric norms for orthognathic surgery (COGS analysis) given by Legan and Burstone with norms obtained for North Indian population.

Methods: Pre-treatment digital lateral cephalograms of 100 orthodontically untreated subjects having pleasing profile and normal occlusion in the age range of 18-25 yrs (mean age of 21 ± 2.62 years) were selected. 16 linear and 6 angular hard tissue parameters of COGS analysis were analyzed using nemoceph software for the males and females separately. The data obtained were compared with previously established norms for Orthognathic Surgery using SPSS Version 15.0.

Results: North Indian males and females had smaller anterior cranial base length with prognathic maxilla and mandible, protrusive chin with poor chin form, decreased facial height, decreased posterior maxillary height with anticlockwise rotation of mandible, increased anterior and posterior maxillary dental heights, decreased ramal and corpus length, clockwise rotation of occlusal plane, presence of sagittal discrepancy between maxillary and mandibular denture bases in comparison to Caucasian males and females respectively. North Indian females had more proclination of mandibular incisors than Caucasian females. Sexual dimorphism was also evident in the present study with males exhibiting significantly larger cranial base length, greater middle third facial height and posterior maxillary height, counterclockwise rotation of mandibular plane, greater anterior and posterior mandibular dental heights and longer ramal and corpus length in comparison to females.

Conclusion: North Indian population showed significant differences in facial morphology as compared to Caucasians population. Sexual dimorphism was also evident in North Indian populations. Thus the need to develop separate Orthognathic Surgical norms for better treatment planning of North Indian population is justified.