Cephalometric Norms for the Malaysian Chinese

Chinese ethnic group make up more than a quarter of Malaysia's population and also the second largest ethnic group in Malaysia. The aim of this study was to describe the lateral cephalometric norms for adult Malaysian Chinese females and Chinese males with normal occlusion and to document the differences between them. Objective: To establish a set of data in order to facilitate diagnosis and treatment planning of Malaysian Chinese orthodontic/orthognathic patients. Methods: The sample consisted of 98 Chinese (55 females and 43 males) with a mean age of 22.1 years for female and 22.3 years for male. Cephalometric tracings were done and the landmarks were digitized using OPAL 3.2 Image computer software. Twenty-five subjects who were not involved in this study were randomly selected for error study. The differences were tested using one-way ANOVA. The level of significance was set at 0.1% level (p<0.01). Results: There was a significant difference between both groups in the mean of SN/MxP, MxP/MnP, %LAFH/TAFH, PFH, Wits analysis, UI/MxP, LI/MnP, I1angle, ExpUI, LS-E, LI-E, NLA, NT, CT and LADH values. Conclusions: This study showed that although the two study groups were from the same ethnicity, there were differences between them. The males showed higher skeletal values vertically. Upper incisors were more proclined in females and lower incisors in males. Males showed more incisors at rest, more prominent nose and chin. The data obtained were then pooled to produce commonly used cephalometric values of Malaysian Chinese. Financial support: Vote F (No; F0107/2002A) granted by the University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur