[Cephalometric analysis of the soft tissue profile in Hunan Han adults with normal occlusion].

Objective: To analyze the characteristics soft tissue profile in Hunan Han adults with normal occlusion and to explore the differences of the soft tissue profile in gender, region and race.

Methods: Lateral cephalometric radiographs were performed for 323 volunteers (164 females and 159 males) from Hunan Province. The digital cephalometric radiographs were imported into the WinCeph8.0 measurement and analysis system in a same computer. According to the Holdaway analysis method, the mean and standard deviation were calculated. Then the results were compared to the data from Liaoning, Nepalese, Japanese, North American Caucasians.

Results: The normal value of cephalometric facial soft tissue profile in Han population adults with normal occlusion in Hunan Province were obtained. There were significant differences in subnasale to H line (Sn-H), upper lip tension, lower lip sulcus depth (Si-PgsLs), and soft tissue chin thickness (Pg-Pgs) between males and females (all P<0.05). Compared with Liaoning Province, significant regional differences in soft tissue facial angle (FH-NsPgs), upper lip sulcus depth (Ss-Ls), Sn-H, lower lip thickness, upper lip thickness, H angle, lower lip to H line (Li-PgsLs), Si-PgsLs, and Pg-Pgs were found in Hunan Province (all P<0.05). Compared with the Japan, significant regional differences in FH-NsPgs, nose prominence (Sn-Pn), lower lip thickness, upper lip tensity, H angle, Li-PgsLs, Si-PgsLs, and Pg-Pgs were found in Hunan Province (all P<0.05). Compared with the Nepalese, significant regional differences in Sn-Pn, Ss-Ls, Sn-H, skeletal profile convexity (A-NPs), basic upper lip thickness, upper lip tensity, H angle, Li-PgsLs and Pg-Pgs were found in Hunan Province (all P<0.05). Compared with the North America, significant regional differences in Sn-Pn, Ss-Ls, Sn-H, A-NPs, basic upper lip thickness, upper lip tensity, H angle, Li-PgsLs, Si-PgsLs and Pg-Pgs were found in Hunan Province (all P<0.05).

Conclusion: There are both similarities and differences in facial soft tissue profile between males and females with normal occlusion in Hunan Province. The characteristics of facial soft tissue profile in Hunan Province are different from that in Liaoning area, Nepal, Japan and North America.