BRIDGING THE GAP IN CEPHALOMETRIC NORMS: A POPULATION-SPECIFIC HARD TISSUE STUDY IN THE NORTH INDIAN,SUNAM COMMUNITY

Introduction: The cranial base constitutes a fundamental component of the craniofacial complex, providing the structural and developmental foundation for maxillomandibular alignment and spatial orientation. Variability in cranial base morphology has been extensively documented across different ethnicities, racial groups, and sexes, underscoring its significance in orthodontic diagnosis and treatment planning. Ethnic-specific differences in cranial base length, angle, and flexure can affect cephalometric analyses and skeletal classifications, thereby necessitating the use of population-specific normative data. In the context of India’s heterogeneous demographic composition, a uniform application of cephalometric standards derived from other populations may result in diagnostic inaccuracies and suboptimal treatment outcomes.

Aim and Objectives: To establish normative values for anterior cranial base length, posterior cranial base length, anterior facial

height, posterior facial height, maxillary length, and mandibular length among adult males and females from Punjab.

Materials and Method: A total of 100 pre-treatment lateral cephalograms from adults (aged 18—30 years) reporting to the

Department of Orthodontics, Guru Nanak Dev DentalCollege and Research Institute, Sunam, were analyzed.

Result and Conclusion: Statistically significant differences were observed in anterior cranial base length, maxillary base length, and mandibular base length compared to Caucasian standards, with smaller values in the Punjabi population. This reinforces the need for region-specific cephalometric norms.