Soft tissues cephalometric norms for a sample of Sudanese adults. Part I: Legan and Burstone analysis

Purpose: To establish soft tissues cephalometric norms for orthognathic surgery in a sample of Sudanese adults.Materials and Methods: A total of 106 lateral cephalograms of Sudanese adults (55 females and 51 males) aged between 18 and 25 years (mean 22.8 years) were manually traced and analysed using Legan and Burstone Cephalometric analysis for orthognathic Surgery (COGS).Results: Sudanese sample, in comparison to Caucasian, had a more convex profile with larger angle of convexity and more prognathic maxillae, obtuse lower face-throat angle, more acute nasolabial angle, protrusive upper and lower lips with deeper labiomental sulci and greater maxillary incisors exposure with larger interlabial gap. Males had greater maxillary and mandibular prognathism, more obtuse lower face-throat angle and vertical height depth ratio than females. Females had larger vertical lip chin ratio, maxillary incisor exposure and interlabial gap.Conclusion: Considerable differences between the soft tissue profile configuration of Sudanese and Caucasian adults exist and also between Sudanese and other populations. These variations should be taken into account during diagnosis and treatment planning of orthognathic surgery.