JPNR - S10 - 393
JPNR - S10 - 393
JPNR - S10 - 393
Dr. Darahnam Kharlyngdoh1, Dr. Neha Agarwal2, Dr. Mukul Kumar Pal3, Dr. Nitish Pratap Singh4, Dr. Sujit Panda5
1
Post Graduate Student (Third Year), Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics, Rama Dental College Hospital
and Research Centre, Kanpur, India
2
Professor, Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics, Rama Dental College Hospital and Research Centre,
Kanpur, India
3
Post Graduate Student (Third Year), Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics, Rama Dental College Hospital
and Research Centre, Kanpur, India
4
Post Graduate Student (Third Year), Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics, Rama Dental College Hospital
and Research Centre, Kanpur, India
5
Professor & Head, Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics, Rama Dental College Hospital and Research
Centre, Kanpur, India
Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the position of the maxillary incisor and upper lip cephalometrically in a
North Indian population and to compare them with the other established cephalometric norms.
Materials and Methods: Digital lateral cephalograms were taken on 60 subjects (30 males and 30 females) of 18-30 years having
well-balanced faces and good occlusion. The cephalograms were traced and parameters relating to upper incisor and upper lip
position were evaluated and assessed.
Results: Significant differences were seen on gender wise comparison in the U1-TVL, upper lip thickness and upper lip-E line
parameters. Highly significant differences were seen in the parameters on comparison with their respective established norms
showing distinctions between the North Indian population and the Caucasian population.
Conclusion: Females exhibited more forwardly placed maxillary incisors and upper lip when compared to males of the North
Indian population. The males however presented with more incisor proclination than the females. Males were observed to have
thicker lips when compared to the females. The North Indian population presented with more proclined and more forwardly placed
incisors and have thinner lips when compared to the established Caucasian norms for both genders.
Key Words: Cephalometric norms, Maxillary Incisor position, Upper lip position, North Indian population
Introduction
In the late 1920s when Edward H. Angle introduced his classification of malocclusion, orthodontics focused
predominantly on the molar relationship as Class I, Class II or Class III. Non-extraction and expansion was generally
the treatment of choice. Tweed later in the 1940s emphasized on the lower incisors as he clearly noticed the
shortcomings of the non-extraction treatment as believed by his mentor, Angle. The minimal emphasis on the upper
1. To study the maxillary incisor and upper lip positions cephalometrically in North Indian subjects with proportional
facial profiles.
2. To investigate the sexual dimorphism in the maxillary incisor positions in these subjects.
3. To compare maxillary incisor and upper lip positions in North Indian subjects with the other established
cephalometric norms.
The sample of this study consisted of lateral cephalograms of 60 subjects (30 males and 30 females) in the age group
of 18-30 years belonging to the North Indian population. The criteria for the selection of the sample were: Orthognathic
to mildly convex facial profile, Class I molar relationship, Normal overjet and overbite, Competent lips, No history
of previous orthodontic treatment. Digital Lateral cephalograms were taken on the selected North Indian subjects. All
the cephalograms were taken with the patients in a relaxed standing position looking into an imaginary point in front
of them at eye level to register the natural head position. The central ray beam was directed towards the external
auditory meatus and perpendicular to the midsagittal plane. The cephalograms were taken with the teeth in centric
occlusion and the lips in rest position and traced on lead acetate sheets with extra smooth finish HB pencil with a
diameter of 0.5 mm. The following cephalometric parameters were studied:
Figure 4: Angular parameters in upper central incisor evaluation. 1.) U1-SN 2.) U1-PP 3.) U1-NA 4.) U1-OP 5.)
Interincisal angle. Landmarks depicted: S-Sella, N-Nasion, A-Point A, ANS- Anterior Nasal Spine, PNS-Posterior
Nasal Spine
Figure 5: Linear parameters in upper central incisor evaluation 1.) U1-TVL 2.) U1-NA 3.) U1-APog 4.) U1-NPog 5.)
U1-N perpendicular 6.) U1-Pt. A vertical. Landmarks depicted: N-Nasion, A-Point A, Sn-Subnasale, Pog-Pogonion,
Or-Orbitale
The results were analyzed using descriptive statistics and making comparisons among the various groups. Discrete
data were summarized as in mean & SD. The p-value was taken significant when less than 0.05 (p<0.05) and
Confidence interval of 95% was taken. Analysis of sexual dimorphism in maxillary incisor and upper lip position was
done firstly. There was a high statistical significant difference between males and females in the U1-TVL incisor
parameter (p<0.001) with the males exhibiting a lower mean value (-13.43±3.95) compared to the females (-
9.70±2.22). The other parameters related to the upper incisor were observed to be not statistically significant. (Table
1) Amongst the upper lip parameters, high statistical significant difference between males and females was seen in
the parameter upper lip thickness (p<0.001) with higher mean values exhibited by males (14.17±1.95) as compared to
females (11.70±1.49). Significant difference was also seen in the upper lip to E-line parameter (p=0.016) with females
presenting higher mean values (-2.48±1.69) as compared to males (-3.77±2.25). (Table 2) Comparative analysis of
maxillary incisor and upper lip position of current study with their respective standard values was also attempted. In
the upper incisor parameters, the males of the current study exhibited statistical significance wrt U1-NPog (p=0.002)
with higher values as compared to their norms. High statistical significant differences (p=0.001) were seen in U1-
APog, U1-PP, U1-SN, U1-NA (angular), and Interincisal angle parameters. The females presented significant
differences in the U1-pt. A vertical (p=0.011) and U1-PP (p=0.002). Highly significant differences were seen in the
U1-NPog (p=0.001), U1-APog, U1-SN, U1-NA (angular) and Interincisal angle with p<0.001. The upper lip
parameters on comparison to their respective norms exhibited statistical significance especially in the females with all
parameters having significant differences. However in the males, only the parameter upper lip angle showed
significant difference on comparison (p=0.002) while the other parameters were seen to be not statistically significant.
Upper Lip Thickness (mm) 14.17 1.95 11.70 1.49 5.51 <0.001
Upper Lip- S line (mm) 0.18 1.79 0.67 1.45 -1.15 0.256
Upper Lip- E line (mm) -3.77 2.25 -2.48 1.69 -2.49 0.016
Table –3: Comparison of Upper Incisor Parameters with Standard values among Males
Male Standard Value One sample t test
Upper Incisor p-
Mean SD Mean/Range t-value
value
Table – 5: Comparison of Upper Lip Parameters with Standard values among Males
Table – 6: Comparison of Upper Lip Parameters with Standard values among Females
Female Standard Value One sample t test
Upper Lip
Mean SD Mean/Range t-value p-value
Upper Lip- TVL
2.97 1.43 3.7±1.2 2.81 0.009
(mm)
Discussion
An individual’s psychological well-being and social acceptance are significantly impacted and influenced by facial
aesthetics. Facial aesthetics along with function are paramount factors to be taken into consideration in the treatment
planning and nowadays are also considered to be the primary objectives which determines the success of various
orthodontic and orthognathic treatment procedures. 5 Any feature or parameter which may be deemed to be
aesthetically pleasant by various ethnic groups varies depending on their respective populations. Therefore, due to
such variations, a standard established for a particular demographic cannot be universally applied or followed.
Comparing Caucasians to Asians, it was found that the upper and lower lips protruded more. The combination of a
short nose and a lack of chin prominence, he continues, may be to blame for this fact. 6,7 The men displayed less
pronounced soft tissue profile variations whereas the women displayed less pronounced upper and lower lip
protrusion. In this study, statistically significant differences in the mean values of U1-TVL were seen between males
and females, with the females exhibiting more forwardly positioned incisors. This is in concordance with the studies
done by various researchers in the literature. In comparison to the North Indian population, South Indian ethnic
population displayed more forwardly placed maxillary incisors. 8,9 In a study on the Marathi population although
exhibited similar results but with larger values, suggest of a more forwardly positioned central incisors. The upper lip
to E line mean values showed statistical significance with the females indicating more lip projection when compared
to males. Few other researchers showed similar projections in both males and females. 10,11 In the studies conducted
on the Kashmiri populace, they were also in concordance with the findings of the current study but they presented
with smaller values of lip projection to the E plane which may indicate either retrusive lips or increased nasal
projection. The upper lip to S line parameter however did not show any statistical significance in the study with both
Conclusion
Based on the findings and results of this study, the following conclusions can be drawn. 1) Females exhibited more
forwardly placed maxillary incisors and upper lip when compared to males of the North Indian population. The males
however presented with more incisor proclination than the females. 2) Males were observed to have thicker lips when
compared to the females. 3) The North Indian population presented with more proclined and more forwardly placed
incisors when compared to the established Caucasian norms for both genders. 4) The North Indians presented with
thinner lips as compared to the Caucasians.
References
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3. Downs WB. Variations in facial relationships; their significance in treatment and prognosis. Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop 1948;34:812-
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4. Proffit WR, White RP, Sarver DM. Contemporary treatment of dento-facial deformity. Missouri: Mosby; 2003; p157.
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