OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to determine from a sample of Amazonian youngsters, with normal occlusion, the mean values for soft profile characteristics using cephalometric radiographs obtained in lateral norm. METHODS: The cephalometric radiographs of the 30 youngsters, being 15 males and 15 females, with mean age of 21.6 years old, were assessed. For statistical analysis, central tendencies and dispersion measurements (mean and standard deviation) were used and, for both the comparison of the mean values of males and females and the correlations between the measurements of the soft profile and bony profile, the unpaired Student's t-test was applied. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: After obtaining statistical data, parameters were set based on the cephalometric norms regarding the specialized literature, revealing that all variables presented a normal distribution pattern. There was sexual dimorphism for the following measurements: ANB, NAP, ANS-Me, N-ANS, Sn'-Me', and N'-SN'. Norms were determined for all the assessed measurements. Statistical differences were observed between the norm found in the present study and those found in the specialized literature.

OBJETIVO: o presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a idade óssea pelo método de Greulich & Pyle (1959) e o período do crescimento puberal, de acordo com o trabalho de Martins (1979). MÉTODOS: utilizaram-se radiografias de mão e punho de 201 crianças amazonenses, sendo 103 do sexo masculino e 98 do feminino, com idades cronológicas de 9 a 12 anos. Para análise estatística, utilizou-se o teste de qui-quadrado com nível de significância em 5% (p<0,05). RESULTADOS E CONCLUSÕES: as crianças do sexo feminino, em relação às do sexo masculino, encontravam-se mais adiantadas em todas as fases do crescimento esquelético, para as idades estudadas, estando 50% das meninas no pico do crescimento puberal, enquanto apenas 11,6% dos meninos estavam na mesma fase. As idades do início e pico do surto de crescimento puberal foram mais precoces nas meninas (10,1±0,7 e 11,1±0,8 anos, respectivamente) do que nos meninos (11,4±0,7 e 12,3±0,4 anos, respectivamente). As meninas apresentaram uma maior porcentagem de maturação precoce do que os meninos (41,8% e 5,8%, respectivamente); enquanto a maturação tardia foi mais prevalente nos meninos (38,8%) do que nas meninas (11,2%). A idade óssea média dos meninos foi de 10,4±1,7 anos e das meninas, 11,7±1,8 anos, para o grupo estudado.

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the bone age using the Greulich & Pyle method (1959) and pubertal growth according to the study conducted by Martins (1979). METHODS: Hand and wrist radiographs of 201 children (103 boys) aged 9 to 12 years living in Amazonas were analyzed. A chi-square test was used for statistical analysis at a level of significance of 5% (p<0.05). RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Girls were at more advanced stages in all phases of skeletal growth than boys for the ages under study; 50% of the girls had reached pubertal growth peak, whereas only 11.6% of the boys were in the same stage. The beginning and the peak of the pubertal growth spurt occurred earlier among girls (10.1 ± 0.7 and 11.1 ± 0.8 years) than among boys (11.4 ± 0.7 and 12.3 ± 0.4 years). Early maturation was more frequent among girls than among boys (41.8% vs. 5.8%), and late maturation was more prevalent among boys (38.8% vs. 11.2%). Mean bone age in the group of boys was 10.4 ± 1.7 years, and in the group of girls, 11.7 ± 1.8 years.

OBJETIVO: determinar os valores da medida de Wits para jovens amazonenses portadores de oclusão normal. METODOLOGIA: por meio de telerradiografias em norma lateral, determinou-se a medida Wits em uma amostra de 30 jovens, sendo 15 do gênero feminino e 15 do gênero masculino. Todos eram brasileiros, amazonenses, filhos e netos de amazonenses, sem tratamento ortodôntico prévio, com perfil harmonioso, oclusão normal e ausência dos terceiros molares. Nesses indivíduos, foi determinada a medida Wits e essa foi comparada entre os gêneros, por meio de um teste t. RESULTADOS E CONCLUSÕES: não houve dimorfismo sexual nas grandezas cefalométricas de Wits. Evidenciou-se a necessidade de um padrão cefalométrico específico a ser utilizado em amazonenses brasileiros.

AIM: to determine the mean values of Wits appraisal in a sample of Amazons Brazilian youths, with normal occlusion. METHODS: cephalometric tracings were used to determine the Wits appraisal in a sample of 30 Amazon Brazilian youths (mean age: 21.6 years), 15 boys and 15 girls, with normal occlusion, that had not been submitted to orthodontic treatment. All individuals were children and grandchildren of Amazons parents and grandparents. All of them had completed permanent dentition without third molars. Wits appraisal was compared between gender with a Student t test. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: there was no difference between gender, and our results suggest the necessity of developing a specific cephalometric pattern for Amazon Brazilians.