AIM: this study was meant to verify the cephalometrics of the skeletal structures of the face in the vertical direction in order to obtain the mean values of normality for brazilian youths, japanese and caucasian descendents, with normal occlusion; to verify the presence or absence of dimorphism between the genders; and to investigate the differences or similarities between those racial groups. METHODS: cephalometric evaluation. RESULTS: after the determination of the average and standard deviation for each cephalometric measure under study, in both genders and racial groups, the results of the research evidenced, in some cephalometric measures, the presence of dimorphism between the genders in both racial groups and difference between the racial groups. CONCLUSIONS: it was verified the need to use a specific cephalometric standard, in the vertical direction, for brazilians, japanese and caucasian descendents.
Cephalometric standards; Normal occlusion; Vertical dimension
