Methods: Dental records of 58 adult African patients with aesthetically pleasing facial profiles i.e. normal dental and skeletal relationships were retrospectively examined. The records contained clinical, demographic, and radiographic information. Cephalometric data were measured and compared to previously reported studies. The methods described by Fitzgerald et al., (1992) and Burstone, (1967) were used to measure the nasolabial angle and horizontal lips position respectively.
Results: The mean age of the patients was 22.2 years, with a range of 16 to 29 years. Just under two thirds (63.8%) were females. There were no gender differences (p>0.05) in the mean values of measured linear and angular parameters. The mean male and female values, of nasolabial angle (84.8; 84.2) degrees and anterior-posterior lip position i.e. upper lip (11.5; 10.5) and lower lip (10.7; 10.7) millimeters were similar to those reported in the literature.
Conclusion: The mean linear and angular parameters recorded in this study are consistent with what has been reported.