Prevalence of long face pattern in Brazilian individuals of different ethnic backgrounds

Abstract

Objective:

The long face pattern is a facial deformity with increased anterior total facial height due to vertical excess of the lower facial third. Individuals with long face may present different degrees of severity in vertical excess, as well as malocclusions that are difficult to manage. The categorization of vertical excess is useful to determine the treatment prognosis. This survey assessed the distribution of ethnically different individuals with vertical excess according to three levels of severity and determined the prevalence of long face pattern.

Material and Methods:

The survey was comprised of 5,020 individuals of Brazilian ethnicity (2,480 females and 2,540 males) enrolled in middle schools in Bauru-SP, Brazil. The criterion for inclusion of individuals with vertically impaired facial relationships was based on lip incompetence, evaluated under natural light, in standing natural head position with the lips at rest. Once identified, the individuals were classified into three subtypes according to the severity: mild, moderate, and severe. Then the pooled sample was distributed according to ethnical background as White (Caucasoid), Black (African descent), Brown (mixed descent), Yellow (Asian descent) and Brazilian Indian (Brazilian native descent). The Chi-square (χ²) test was used (p<0.05) to compare the frequency ratios of individuals with vertically impaired facial relationships in the total sample and among different ethnicities, according to the three levels of severity.

Results:

The severe subtype was rare, except in Black individuals (7.32%), who also presented the highest relative frequency (45.53%) of moderate subtype, followed by Brown individuals (43.40%). In the mild subtype, Yellow (68.08%) and White individuals (62.21%) showed similar and higher relative frequency values.

Conclusions:

Black individuals had greater prevalence of long face pattern, followed by Brown, White and Yellow individuals. The prevalence of long face pattern was 14.06% in which 13.39% and 0.68% belonged to moderate and severe subtypes, respectively.

Epidemiology; Long face pattern

INTRODUCTION

Long face pattern consists of facial deformities with increased anterior total facial height¹,¹⁷ as a consequence of vertical excess of the lower facial third¹,⁴,¹¹,²⁵, which results in an oval¹⁰ or taper¹ facial appearance. In this pattern, lip incompetence is mandatory¹,⁴,²⁵ and when the lips seal, contraction of the perioral musculature can be evidenced, which accentuates the deficiency of the chin contour¹,⁴,¹⁰,²³ and the appearance of a more retrognathic mandible¹¹,²⁵. Gingiva and incisor overexposure occur during smiling⁴,¹⁰,²³ as a result of anterior and posterior maxillary dentoalveolar growth excess¹, which constitutes the chief complaint of patients¹,¹⁰,¹¹,²⁵.

Also, a deficiency may be observed in the zygomatic prominence¹,²⁵ and chin⁸, besides the marked nasolabial depression²³. The length of the upper lip is usually normal¹⁰,¹¹,²³, but it may be short and aggravate the deformity¹¹. The lower lip posture is often impaired with excessive lip vermilion display at rest¹⁰,¹¹. The nose is long¹,⁴,¹⁰,¹¹, and the nostrils are narrow¹,⁸,¹¹,²⁵ with prominent nasal dorsum in lateral view⁴,¹⁰,¹¹,²³. In this context, the orthodontic treatment alone is very limited, and an orthodontic-surgical approach would be more appropriate⁹,²⁴.

Despite the detailed description of long face pattern in the literature, few studies have investigated the epidemiology of this deformity⁷. A survey performed by the National Center for Health Statistics¹⁵ showed a prevalence of 1.5% among North Americans, where 0.75% of these individuals presented unattractive facial esthetics severe enough for indication of orthodontic-surgical treatment. Similar prevalence was found by another study (0.6%) with regard to individuals with a severe long face pattern²⁰.

In addition, it is important to consider the prevalence of different degrees of severity in vertical excess that may affect the face considering the great variation of long face problems, ranging from individuals without temporary passive lip sealing due to functional deviations up to individuals who are identified with facial unattractiveness due to long face pattern. The categorization of vertical excess is useful to determine the treatment prognosis.

The differentiation among ethnic groups in an epidemiological survey is of fundamental importance, as many studies reported racial differences in facial features. The Brazilian population presents a variety of ethnic miscegenation, which has been classified as the most heterogeneous population in the world¹⁸. The State of São Paulo belongs to the Southeast region, which may represent Brazil in terms of its ethnicity distribution¹⁹. Thus, this survey assessed the distribution of ethnically different individuals with vertically excess according to three levels of severity, and determined the prevalence of long face pattern.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

In accordance with Resolution 196/96 of the National Health Council, the Declaration of Helsinki and the Nuremberg Code for human experimentation and after approval by the Institutional Review Board of Univ. Estadual Paulista - UNESP at Araçatuba (FOA 2005-01085), the present sample size was calculated considering a 95% confidence interval and 1.5% of the estimated prevalence for long face pattern¹⁵. By assuming that 0.35% of margin error could exist in the population estimate, a sample size of 4,643 individuals was needed, according to the formula²⁷ . Added to an estimated 10% of potential loss, a final sample size of approximately 5000 individuals was established to achieve the desired accuracy. The sample size was estimated on the Epiinfo 6.04 software.

The present study was conducted on 5,020 individuals of Brazilian ethnicity enrolled in public and private middle schools (5^th to 8^th grades) in the city of Bauru: 2,480 females (49.40%) and 2,540 males (50.60%) (Table 1). The individuals were aged 10 years to 16 years and 11 months, with a mean age of 13 years (SD=1-year-3-months) for the total sample, 12 years and 11 months (SD=1 year and 3 months) for females and 13 years (SD=1 year and 3 months) for males.

Table 1
Frequencies of total and evaluated students applied in middle schools in the city of Bauru-SP (Source: Municipal and State Secretary of Education in Bauru, 2005)

Schools	Total students		Evaluated students
	n	(%)	N	(%)
Municipal	1,443	7.24	104	2.07
Private	4,347	21.83	1,157	23.05
State	14,127	70.93	3,759	74.88
Total	19,917	100	5,02	100

Only morphological facial analysis was considered as the basis for the present study. With regard to ethnic classification, the ethnical background may be classified as White, Black, Brown, Yellow and Brazilian Indian, according to the criteria established by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE – Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística)⁵. The ethnic distribution among residents in the city of Bauru-SP and among the evaluated sample is presented in Table 2. Besides the skin color (evaluated in the ventral part of the forearm), the color and texture of the hair, the color of the eyes, and the forms of the lips and mouth were also considered in the classification according to Parra, et al.¹⁸ (2003).

Table 2
Ethnic distribution of residents and evaluated sample in the city of Bauru-SP (Source: Ministry of Planning, Budget and Management. Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics)

Race	n total	%	n evaluated	%
White	237,925	75.67	3,559	70.90
Brown	55,504	17.65	1,041	20.73
Black	15,281	4.86	279	5.56
Yellow	5,096	1.62	141	2.81
Brazilian Indian	625	0.20	0	0
Total	314,431	100%	5,020	100%

According to the inclusion criteria, the individual should not present clinically observed syndromes and/or history of surgery, or fractures in the facial or skull region. The history of previous or ongoing orthopedic and/or orthodontic treatment was not an exclusion criterion, because both treatments are unable to significantly change the facial proportions and relationships¹⁹,²⁴,²⁶. All individuals were evaluated under natural light, in standing natural head position with the lips at rest without the aid of any special equipment, by a single examiner (MAC) experienced in orthodontics and properly calibrated for facial morphology evaluation¹¹.

The criterion for identification of patients with vertically impaired facial relationships with excess is morphological, based on lip incompetence, that is, absence of lip sealing at rest¹,⁴,²⁵. Once identified, individuals with vertically impaired facial relationships were classified into three subtypes according to the severity as mild, moderate, and severe. The method for this classification has been thoroughly described and has proven to be reliable in a previous study⁶ that demonstrated intra- and inter-examiner agreement.

Classification criteria for the mild subtype included lip incompetence, excessive exposure of maxillary incisors at rest and/or gingiva when smiling, and presence of mild disproportion between the middle and lower facial thirds, even posturally. In summary, these individuals could be considered as transitory long face, postural or even borderline to long face²¹. In this manner, they would present a good prognosis for conservative treatment (orthodontic and/or orthopedic)⁶ (Figure 1).

Figure 1
Facial photographs showing the mild subtype individual. Note that vertical facial proportions are balanced even though lip incompetence is observed. Parents signed informed consent for the publication of these pictures

With regard to moderate subtype, the classification criteria were the presence of an actual discrepancy between the middle and lower facial thirds, besides the features already described in the previous subtype, thus certainly characterizing a long face pattern individual. In these individuals, the prognosis is regular for conservative treatment (orthodontic and/or orthopedic)⁶ (Figure 2).

Figure 2
Facial photographs showing the moderate subtype individual. Note that vertical facial proportions are unbalanced. The lower facial height is increased in relation to the middle facial height. Parents signed informed consent for the publication of these pictures

Individuals in the severe subtype should present a severe disproportion between the middle and lower facial thirds, associated with features described in the previous subtype combined to more typical signs of long face, severe enough to cause unattractiveness. In these individuals, the prognosis is poor for conservative treatment, and orthognathic surgery is indicated for normalization of facial relationships⁶ (Figure 3).

Figure 3
Facial photographs showing the severe subtype individual. Note that vertical facial proportions are unbalanced and all facial esthetic parameters are worse. Parents signed informed consent for the publication of these pictures

For statistical processing, all results were analyzed on the Statistica 5.1 software (Stat Soft Inc., Tulsa, USA). The Chi-square (χ²) test was used at a significance level of 5% (p <0.05) to compare the frequency ratios of individuals with vertically impaired facial relationships in the total sample and among different ethnicities, according to the three levels of severity.

RESULTS

An evaluation of the intra- and inter-examiner error in a previous study⁶ revealed a moderate agreement, evidencing the accuracy of the present methodology. In general, 34.94% of the pooled sample presents vertical excess and 65.06% belong to other patterns, either pattern I, II, III or short face. Considering that long face pattern consists of moderate and severe subtypes, 14.06% of individuals showed long face pattern, in which 0.68% belonged to the severe subtype (Table 3).

Table 3
Comparison of the prevalence of individuals with vertical excess and other patterns, according to severity, for each ethnic group

Pattern Race	Mild		Moderate		Severe		Other patterns		Total
	N	%	n	%	n	%	n	%	N	%
White	726	14.46	421	8.39	20	0.40	2,392	47.65	3,559	70.90
Brown	232	4.62	181	3.60	4	0.08	624	12.43	1,041	20.73
Yellow	32	0.64	14	0.28	1	0.02	94	1.87	141	2.81
Black	58	1.16	56	1.11	9	0.18	156	3.11	279	5.56
Total	1,048	20.88	672	13.38	34	0.68	3,266	65.06	5,020	100.00

When the relative frequencies were analyzed (Table 4), the severe subtype was rare for all ethnicities, except for Black individuals (7.32%), whose value was three times higher compared to other ethnicities. With regard to the moderate subtype, Black individuals presented the highest relative frequency (45.53%), followed by Brown individuals (43.40%), who were above the average relative frequency of the pooled sample (38.31%). An opposite situation was observed in the mild subtype, where Yellow (68.08%) and White individuals (62.21%) showed similar and higher relative frequency values.

Table 4
Comparison of relative frequencies among individuals with vertical excess, according to severity, for each ethnic group

Severity Race	Mild		Moderate		Severe		Total
	N	%	n	%	n	%	N	%
White	726	62.21	421	36.08	20	1.71	1,167	100.00
Brown	232	55.64	181	43.40	4	0.96	417	100.00
Yellow	32	68.08	14	29.79	1	2.13	47	100.00
Black	58	47.15	56	45.53	9	7.32	123	100.00
Total	1,048	59.75	672	38.31	34	1.94	1,754	100.00

DISCUSSION

Facial patterns are primary etiological factors that determine the traces of malocclusions⁶. The long face pattern similarly respects this rule, and malocclusions in individuals with long face are primarily the result of compensation of teeth aiming to camouflage the vertical facial deformity. However, epidemiological surveys in orthodontics, to date, have been directed to the teeth and little information has been reserved to the facial patterns.

According to Hill¹³ (1992), the more complex the survey method, the more errors could be generated. The subjective facial analysis parameters based on the presence or absence of specific conditions for classification are not less validated or less reproducible. This method can be considered as an easier form for survey registration with good reproducibility once the examiners are calibrated⁶.

With regard to the sample, the ethnic distribution can be considered as representative for the city of Bauru-SP, except for the Brazilian Indian group, who are concentrated in the rural area and were not covered in the present survey (Table 2). The ethnic distribution found in our survey cannot be considered as representative for Brazil. Thus, it may represent the distribution of the long face pattern in different races in Bauru, but not of a racial group in Brazil.

The high prevalence of vertical facial excess found in the present survey (34.94%) can be explained by the use of lip incompetency as the criterion in the present survey. The lip incompetency is mandatory in long face individuals; however, this characteristic may be frequent during the facial growth period, when it may be considered as normal². For those individuals with temporary lip incompetency, malocclusion may not be present and orthodontic or orthopedic treatment may be unnecessary. To discriminate temporary from permanent lip incompetency, other facial features should be associated for the correct diagnosis⁶. From the three subtypes of vertical facial excess, only moderate and severe subtypes were considered as long face patterns.

According to the prevalence of different severities of vertical facial excess, individuals with mild subtype (20.88%) were predominant (Table 3). Mild subtype individuals (Figure 1) may be different from each other, for who it may be speculated that the primary etiologic factors are not genetic, but local or general. The mild long face identified at an early age, could be only postural, which morphologically represents a mandatory yet temporary inadequacy between the internal and external functional components.

Individuals with vertical facial excess at moderate and severe levels were classified as long face pattern individuals. A prevalence of 14.06% of individuals with long face pattern was found in this survey, resulting from the combined prevalence of moderate (13.38%) and severe subtypes (0.68%) (Table 3). Individuals with mild vertical facial excess were not included in the composition of the group of patients with long face pattern because they were classified as having transitory, postural or even borderline long face.

A slightly higher prevalence (4.1%) was reported in a retrospective study of 1,460 consecutive patients who sought treatment in the orthognathic surgery service in North Carolina (USA)²¹. Since the sample consisted of individuals seeking surgical treatment and the focus of the investigation was facial asymmetry instead of the long face pattern itself, these results may hardly be compared with those found in the present study.

With regard to frequency distribution, White individuals prevailed in all three levels of severity of vertical facial excess. However, this should not be considered as the true prevalence, but a tendency of sampling due to the significant participation of White individuals in the pooled sample. When the relative frequency was analyzed, statistically significant differences were found among ethnicities. Yellow (68.08%) and White individuals (62.21%) showed higher frequencies of individuals with mild subtype, followed by the Brown (55.64%). Black individuals showed the lowest frequency of mild subtype (47.15%) (Table 4). Among individuals with long face pattern, constituted by moderate and severe subtypes, Black individuals showed the highest prevalence (7.32%), followed by Yellow (2.13%), White (1.71%) and Brown individuals (0.96%) (Table 4).

Although the Black ethnic group represented 5.56% of the total sample, this ethnic group showed the highest frequency of long face pattern. The tendency of increased facial height in Black individuals, of different magnitudes, has already been suggested in some cephalometric studies³,¹²,¹⁶,²². Barter³ (1995) hypothetically suggested that this increase in facial height was the compensatory mechanism of the mandible that rotates in a clockwise direction to compensate for the growth of the mandibular body. In other words, this morphological characteristic found in the Black ethnicity would predispose to an increase in vertical dimension.

Another survey conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics¹⁴ on 7,400 American youths aged 12 to 17 years found a higher prevalence and severity of anterior open bite in Afro-Americans (16.3%) in comparison to White individuals (3.9%). Despite the limitations inherent to the survey, a great difference has been evidenced in the occlusal characteristics between different ethnic groups. This ethnic dimorphism in the characteristics of occlusion could certainly be extrapolated to facial relationships in such magnitude that still needs to be investigated and understood.

The results obtained from this survey suggest some characteristics with ethnic traits. As Yellow, White and Black ethnic groups are totally distinct from each other and Black individuals also participate in the genealogical line to constitute the Brown individuals¹⁸, their prevalence of vertical facial excess as well as the severity of the deformity were also peculiar to each ethnic group. In this context, the Brown ethnic group, which usually resulted from the miscegenation of White and Black, may still present remnants of genetic traits of the Black ethnic group. This fact probably explains a greater proportion of individuals with vertical facial excess and long face pattern observed in both ethnicities.

According to a recent demographic census performed in Brazil, there is an evident increase of Brown ethnic individuals, resulting from miscegenation between White ethnic and Brown ethnic individuals as well as the miscegenation between White ethnic and Brazilian Indians⁵. Probably, the genetic traits of the Black ethnicity influenced the Brown ethnicity and also a major portion of Brazilian White individuals that also showed genetic traces of the Black ethnicity¹⁸. The miscegenation could be credited as one of the reasons explaining why vertical facial excess is highly prevalent among Brazilians compared to other populations in the world. Also, different sampling criteria may result in different prevalence values between the present study and the literature.

In summary, in the prevalence of individuals with long face pattern – moderate and severe subtypes – the Black ethnicity was higher than expected compared to other ethnic groups. This finding demands a critical review of the criteria adopted in the study for morphologic diagnosis in Black individuals. Probably, the morphological criteria used for diagnosis of patients with vertical facial excess in the present survey was magnified for Black individuals. In other words, the determinants of vertical facial excess for other ethnic groups could be considered as normal for Black individuals based on the proposed criteria for facial morphological analysis. This premise has been confirmed by Barter, et al.³ (1995). Other studies with only Black ethnicities should be carried out to elucidate this hypothesis.

CONCLUSIONS

In descending order of relative frequencies, Black individuals had greater prevalence of long face pattern, followed by Brown, White and Yellow individuals. Only a small percentage of individuals (<1%) presented severe subtypes in all the ethnic groups. The prevalence of long face pattern was 14.06% in the population, in which 13.39% and 0.68% belonged to moderate and severe subtypes, respectively.

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  Mar-Apr 2013

History

• Received
  30 Mar 2012
• Reviewed
  3 Jan 2013
• Accepted
  30 Jan 2013