Craniofacial morphology of Upper Shimla Hill Population – A cephalometric study

AimThe aims of the present study were to study the hard and soft tissue cephalometric morphology and establish norms for the Upper Shimla Hill Population, Himachal Pradesh, India, to find similarity with any other racial group and to compare gender differences.Materials and methodsLateral cephalometric radiographs were obtained of Sixty Upper Shimla Hill subjects (30 male and 30 female; mean age 20.6 years and 19.6 years, respectively) with Angle's Class I molar relationship, well-aligned arches, and full complement of teeth except third molars. The lateral cephalograms were traced and 15 linear and 11 angular variables were obtained.ResultsA comparison with the Caucasians’ norm showed that Upper Shimla Hill subjects had longer Anterior cranial base length and increased cranial base angle, retrognathic maxilla, horizontal growth pattern, and proclined upper incisors but reduced lip prominence. Female sample presented shorter anterior and posterior cranial base length, had shorter mandible, less total anterior and posterior face height and reduced lower anterior face height. Males had protrusive upper incisors and acute interincisal angle.ConclusionIt was concluded that to evaluate any Upper Shimla Hill Population orthodontic patient, Upper Shimla Hill norms, and not Caucasians’ norm must be used as a yardstick.