Biology of Osseous Black Male Facial Profile and Compare Whites

The facial profile is similar in all babies. Objectives: To observe growth changes in the osseous facial profile (includes forehead) of Black Males and compare with Whites. Methods: Lateral radiographic cephalograms on 40 Black Males from Nashville, aged six to 18 years, were analyzed. The face was divided into functional components for analysis. The upper face (forehead region) has neural and somatic components, the orbital region of the middle face is neural, the face from SN plane to ANS-PNS plane a combination neural and respiratory region, the palatal plane to the occlusal plane is a neural and dentoalveolar region, while the occlusal plane to the mandibular plane is a neural, muscular and dentoalveolar region. The BMDPC statistical package was used to compute means, variances and standard deviations. Systematic and random error were estimated. The Bolton Sample on Whites was used. t-tests and graphs were used in the comparisons. Results: Forward growth of the upper forehead stopped early with the lower portion continuing to grow producing a less bulbous forehead in adults. The orbits stopped enlarging early while the nasal bone tip moved downward and forward. The ANS and chin stabilized early relative to nasion. Comparing Blacks and Whites, the upper foreheads are similar, the supercilliary arch/glabella and nasal bone were more protrusive in Whites. The teeth and alveolar bone were more protrusive in Blacks. Conclusions: There were more similarities than differencies. There were enough differences to make it imperative to know and understand racial and ethnic specific information to provide equal access to quality health care. Further research is needed to better understand facial morphology and development. This study was supported in part by USPH Grant # DE 02862.