OBJECTIVE: To determine the structural characteristics of Caucasian youths from Ceará State, Northeastern Brazil, presenting with Class II, Division 1 malocclusion and to investigate whether there is gender dimorphism based on the cephalometric variables assessed. METHODS: By means of lateral cephalograms, it was possible to determine the cephalometric characteristics of Class II, Division 1 malocclusion in a sample of 50 Caucasian youths from Ceará State, Brazil, of both genders (25 male and 25 female), aged between 9 and 14 years, who had not received previous orthodontic treatment. Sixteen cephalometric measures were evaluated and a comparison was made between the experimental group (Class II) and the control group (Class I), a sample comprising 50 Caucasian children from the Brazilian State of Ceará, of both genders (22 male and 28 female), aged 9 to 13 years, obtained from research conducted at the Study Center of the Federal University of Ceará (UCCB), Department of Orthodontics. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the maxilla exhibited adequate positioning. The mandible showed a clear predominance of retrusion and dimensional changes in the sagittal direction. The facial vertical dimensions were increased. The maxillary incisors were well-positioned in their apical bases and with slight lingual inclination. The mandibular incisors were labially inclined and protruded. The study identified the presence of gender dimorphism in the following measures: P-Nperp, Co-A, Wits and ALFH.
Angle Class II malocclusion; Cranial circumference; Orthodontics
