Correlation between cephalometry and anthropometry on determining the facial type

by Ramires, Rossana Ribeiro

Introduction: human face with its bony and muscular structures has singular andpeculiar characteristics. It may be classified in three types, associated with thevariation of shape and craniofacial configuration, both in vertical and horizontalplanes, directly affecting dental occlusion, face harmony, orofacial musculature andoral functions. Aim: to correlate cephalometric with anthropometric and facialanalysis findings on determining the facial type. Method: 105 leukoderm adults wereinvolved, 34 male and 71 female aging between 20 and 40 years old. Data werecollected in December 2006 in an orthodontic clinic located at Belo Horizonte.Cephalometric findings to determinate facial types were compared to sevenanthropometric facial measurements, three anthropometric facial proportions andthree anthropometric facial indices, in addition to facial type identification throughclinical facial analysis of photographs. Results: for the male, there were significantstatistical differences in facial types classified by cephalometry among the averagevalues of some anthropometric variables: anterior face height, lower face height,middle face height, inferior face height, facial index, lower facial index, upper facialindex and mandibular proportion. For the female, there were significant statisticaldifferences with: anterior face height, lower face height, middle face height, inferiorface height, ramus height and mandibular proportion. The classification of facial typebased on facial analysis did not satisfactorily match with the cephalometricclassification. Conclusion: anthropometric indices and proportions provided reliabledata to determine long face, in men; long and short face, in women. Facial typeclassification based only on facial analysis was not considered trustworthy whenused separately