Cephalometric norms of Chinese: Pancherz analysis

Abstract

AIM: To establish cephalometric norms for Chinese using the analysis of Pancherz (1982), and to compare them with those of Caucasians. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Lateral cephalometric radiographs taken in natural head posture of a random sample of 200 male and 205 female 12-year-old southern Chinese together with 43 male and 43 female 12-year-old British Caucasian children in Hong Kong. The radiographs were digitised twice using the CASSOS program. RESULTS: In males with Pancherz’s sagittal analysis, the position of the maxillary base, mandibular base, mandibular length and molar relationship were significantly larger in Caucasians than in Chinese, while the maxillary central incisor related to point A and mandibular central incisor related to pogonion were significantly larger in Chinese than in Caucasians. In males with Pancherz’s vertical analysis, the overbite was significantly larger in Caucasians than in Chinese while the position of the mandibular central incisor, maxillary and mandibular permanent first molars, nasal plane angle, mandibular plane angle and mandibular occlusal plane angle were significantly larger in Chinese than in Caucasians. For females using Pancherz’s sagittal analysis, the position of the maxillary and mandibular base, maxillary permanent first molar, mandibular length, overjet, jaw relationship and molar relationship were significantly larger in Caucasians than in Chinese, but the maxillary central incisor related to point A and the mandibular central incisor relate to pogonion were significantly larger in Chinese than in Caucasians. In females using Pancherz’s vertical analysis, overbite was significantly larger in Caucasians than in Chinese, but lower face height, the position of the mandibular central incisor, the maxillary and mandibular permanent first molars, nasal plane angle and mandibular plane angle were significantly larger in Chinese than in Caucasians. CONCLUSION: There are significant differences between Chinese and Caucasian using Pancherz’s analysis.