Cephalometric features of Filipinos with Angle Class I occlusion according to the Munich analysis

The purpose of this study was (1) to establish cephalometric norms for soft tissue, skeletal and dental relationships among Filipino adults; and (2) to compare these norms with the accepted German standards. Eighty-one Filipino subjects, 44 men and 37 women, were selected from the student population of the Manila Central University on the basis of the following criteria: (1) natural-born ethnic Filipino, traced up to their great-grandparent's generation; (2) good facial aesthetics; (3) Angle Class I occlusion with no crowding; (4) all teeth present (third molars may or may not be present); and (5) no previous history of orthodontic treatment. Clinical examinations and interviews were conducted to ensure that the established criteria were observed properly. The German subjects, 78 men and 123 women, were selected from Hamburg and Munich on the basis of the same criteria. Each lateral headfilm was traced and digitized, and differences between the cephalometric measurements of the two groups were compared using the Student's t-test and cephalometric superimpositions. Significant differences between the two groups were seen predominantly in the lower third of the face. The Filipinos showed more posteriorly inclined apical bases and a less prominent chin. Dentally, they exhibited a bimaxillary dental protrusion resulting in an acute dental pattern and a convexity of the soft tissue profile. These findings suggest that ethnic differences in facial traits exist and awareness of the dentofacial pattern of each ethnic group will ensure better success of treatment in establishing optimal facial harmony.