Cephalometric norms for orthognathic surgery in black American adults.

Normal values for the Cephalometrics for Orthognathic Surgery (COGS) analysis for American black adults were developed in this study. The cephalometric radiographs of 33 black American adults with ideal dentitions were analyzed, and a statistical description of their hard and soft tissue cephalometric measurements is presented. In addition, mean values for black American adults were compared with those of white American adults. In black subjects, there was greater maxillary skeletal prognathism, skeletal lower face height, skeletal facial convexity, lower incisor proclination, anterior dental heights, upper and lower lip lengths, and soft tissue thickness of the lips and chin than in white subjects. There was less nasal depth and projection, less bony chin depth, and a smaller nasolabial angle in black subjects. The results of this study may be useful in providing racially specific cephalometric values for diagnosis and treatment planning for orthognathic surgery in American black adults.