Orofacial indices: a study in 240 Nigerian children.

Abstract

This paper seeks to establish normal orofacial indices in Nigerian children under the age of 12. The children were grouped according to age and sex. The indices studied were: mouth width/upper vermilion are with lip relaxed; coefficient of upper lip curvature; upper lip height/mouth width; height of cutaneous upper lip/upper lip height; height of upper vermilion/upper lip height; upper lip elasticity; and size of oral aperture. The indices varied with age. Except for upper lip elasticity in 10-11-year-old children, there were no significant difference s in orofacial indices in male s and females. The coefficient of upper lip curvature which is an index that measure the curve or protrusion of the upper lip, was maximum in two or three-year-olds in both sexes. The orofacial indices calculated from lip dimensions could provide important baseline information for surgical repair or reconstruction of the orofacial region in black children.