A lateral cephalometric analysis of the adult nose

The purpose of this study was to establish a set of standard values for the form of the nose and its relationship to other craniofacial structures in young adult caucasians.

The subjects were 50 (25 male, 25 female) caucasian dental students who gave no history of orthodontic treatment, facial surgery, or facial fractures. Lateral cephalometric radiographs were used to determine the form of the nose and its position relative to other craniofacial structures.

The men had significantly longer and straighter noses than the women, and their noses also projected further from the face. The dorsum of the nose was straight in most subjects. The vertical distances from the tip of the nose to the most prominent part of the upper lip, to the incisal edge of the maxillary central incisor, and to soft tissue pogonion were significantly greater in the men. There were no gender differences in the horizontal distances between the same points and the tip of the nose. Subnasale was significantly more prominent in the men.

In general, the findings of nasal form and position are in agreement with previous studies. Several gender differences in nasal form and position were found. The standards reported should prove to be a useful yardstick for clinicians engaged in procedures likely to alter the form of the adult human face.