Cephalometric craniofacial features in Saudi parents and their offspring.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the correlation and heritability values of craniofacial variables between parents and their offspring.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The sample comprised 24 Saudi families; each family consisted of father, mother, son, and daughter. Lateral cephalometric radiographs were taken for each family member. Twenty-eight angular, linear, and proportional cephalometric variables were measured. Interfamilial correlations and heritability (h(2)) values were estimated among father-son, father-daughter, mother-son, and mother-daughter pairings.

RESULTS: The most similar angular measurements between parents and offspring were related to mandibular variables, which were as follows: MP-SN degrees , MP-FH degrees , SNB degrees , and SNPog degrees ; facial height dimensions and mandibular body length were among the highest similar linear variables. Lower facial height percentage had greater resemblance to parents with regard to proportional measurements. Both the correlation coefficients and the heritable values of these characteristics were stronger in the father-offspring than the mother-offspring pairings. The daughters' cephalometric craniofacial characteristics were more affected by the parents than were those of the sons.

CONCLUSIONS: The overall correlation and h(2) mean values for the three types of measurements showed stronger values in the father-offspring than the mother-offspring groups, with the father-daughter pairings more significant than the father-son groups.