AIM: To evaluate longitudinally the cephalometric changes in the facial profile of young adults. METHODS: The sample was composed of 27 individuals of both genders who presented with Class I and normal occlusion; the initial mean age was 21.2 years. After a mean period of 7.2 years, patients were re-evaluated. All measurements were carried out via digitalized lateral cephalometric radiographs. One calibrated operator identified the cephalometric landmarks. Software was used to take linear and angular values; the mean dimensions were used for data. The evaluated measurements were nasal depth, soft pogonion thickness, upper and lower lip thickness, upper and lower lip position in relation to the esthetic plane of Ricketts, facial convexity including the nose, and facial convexity excluding the nose. The paired t test was used to evaluate the changes. RESULTS: Data indicate that the nose depth increased by a mean of 1.07 mm. The soft pogonion thickness and the lower lip thickness increased a mean of 0.51 mm and 0.55 mm, respectively, and the facial convexity excluding the nose decreased 0.72 degrees. Only the facial convexity including the nose was different between the genders, with greater values for the male subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Facial profile changes throughout the third decade of life; in the present study, these changes were statistically significant for nose depth, observed in both sexes.
AIM: To evaluate longitudinally the cephalometric changes in the facial profile of young adults. METHODS: The sample was composed of 27 individuals of both genders who presented with Class I and normal occlusion; the initial mean age was 21.2 years. After a mean period of 7.2 years, patients were re-evaluated. All measurements were carried out via digitalized lateral cephalometric radiographs. One calibrated operator identified the cephalometric landmarks. Software was used to take linear and angular values; the mean dimensions were used for data. The evaluated measurements were nasal depth, soft pogonion thickness, upper and lower lip thickness, upper and lower lip position in relation to the esthetic plane of Ricketts, facial convexity including the nose, and facial convexity excluding the nose. The paired t test was used to evaluate the changes. RESULTS: Data indicate that the nose depth increased by a mean of 1.07 mm. The soft pogonion thickness and the lower lip thickness increased a mean of 0.51 mm and 0.55 mm, respectively, and the facial convexity excluding the nose decreased 0.72 degrees. Only the facial convexity including the nose was different between the genders, with greater values for the male subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Facial profile changes throughout the third decade of life; in the present study, these changes were statistically significant for nose depth, observed in both sexes.