Soft tissue cephalometric norms in Japanese adults

Lateral soft tissue cephalometric standards of Japanese normal adults were developed with the use of Ricketts, Epker, Holdaway, and Legan cephalometri c analyses. Cephalometric radiographs of 211 Japanese normal adults were an alyzed, and the soft tissue measurements were compared with those of an est hetically pleasant Japanese subgroup and while adult sample. Statistically significant differences were found in the Japanese sample when compared wit h the white norms. On the other hand, the soft tissue mean values of the Ja panese supernormal group were similar to the white norms, with the exceptio n of the nasolabial angle and the lip prominence. Soft tissue cephalometric norms are specific for ethnic groups, but these values should not be inter preted as treatment goals. Normative data represent an aid for the diagnosi s and planning of orthodontic treatment and orthognathic surgery.