[Maxillo-mandibular sagittal relations in the lateral facial examination]

For the purpose of developing a clinical method of facial examination that could permit a determination of the skeletal position of the upper jaw and the mandible, a sample of 70 teleradiographies of individuals among 8 and 18 years of both sexes was analyzed. The anteroposterior relationship of the maxila to the cranium was analyzed through perpendiculars from skin points Nasion, Glabela and Subnasal to the Frankfurt horizontal plane and it was found that Glabela was 2 mm behind Subnasal. The anteroposterior position of the mandible related to the maxila was studied on a perpendicular to Tragion-Subnasal plane descended from point Subnasal and it was found that the labiomental fold was coincident with this perpendicular. A new clinical method using a square rule leaned on the cheek using these reference points is recommended.