The Integumental Profile : A Study of Black American Children

Abstract

This study was undertaken to obtain standards on soft tissue facial contour in black American children, based on an analysis of cephalometric lateral headplates. A sample of black children (10 boys and 10 girls between 10 and 14 years of age) was compared to a white sample of comparable age. The following 20 profile measurements were made and subjected to statistical analysis: Upper lip protuberance, lower lip protuberance, soft tissue profile, anterior nose length, nasal angle, naso-labial angle, upper lip inclination, lower lip inclination, esthetic plane to upper lip, esthetic plane to lower lip, mandibular sulcus, maxillary sulcus, upper lip length, upper lip to upper incisor, lower lip length, height of soft tissue chin button, point A to subnasale, upper lip thickness, and soft tissue chin button. There were significant differences between the white and black samples in all but the following five measurements: Soft tissue convexity, maxillary sulcus depth, upper lip to upper incisor, and soft tissue chin button. There were no statistically significant differences between the measurements for black males and females except that the measurement from upper lip to maxillary incisor was significantly greater in the black male. On the basis of the findings in this limited study, it appears that morphologic standards derived from one ethnic group should not be applied to individuals of another ethnic group.