Ethnic factors and face shapes in 17 - 20 year olds in Gorgan (Northern Iran)

Cephalometery is a branch of anthropometry science. This research was conducted in view of the importance of anthropometric indices in forensic medicine, plastic surgery, anatomy and orthodoncy with regard to face shapes of young males in the ethnic groups of Gorgan. This descriptive and cross-sectional study was done on the face shapes in Fars and Turkman ethnic groups of 398 normal 17-20 year old males using cephalometric measures. The length and width of faces were determined by using classic cephalometery technique; Martin Saler Cephalometer having the accuracy of 0.5 mm and T ruler; and the shape of faces were classified according to 5 international types. Then, mean and percent of face shapes in the ethnic groups of Fars and Turkman males were compared. To determine morphological indices in the ethnic groups chi-square test was used and for comparison of the means of the anthropometric findings Student’s t (=0.05) was applied. The dominant type of face shape in the native Fars and Turkman males was mesoprosopic; 44 % and 38.4%, respectively. The rare type of face shape in native Fars and Turkman males was hyperleptoprosopic; 4% and 8.6 %, respectively. Mean of prosopic index in the two ethnic groups was not significant. This study, in addition to determining face shapes in the area, indicated that diversity of face shapes in the ethnic groups is due to genetic factors.