ABSTRACT
To measure the inter-alar width of the nose, the maxillary inter-canine distance and mouth width of an Arab sample and evaluate the ethnic variations. A prospective study. College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf University, Bahrain. One hundred sixty-eight young adult Arab subjects [51 males and 117 females], from five countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council [GCC], were selected randomly from undergraduate medical students during the academic year 2009/2010. Mouth, nose and teeth dimensions were measured using Vernier caliper; for each subject, three measurements were taken and the average was recorded. The mean inter-alar width of the nose was 35.06 mm [37.14 mm in males and 33.21 mm in females]. The mean maxillary inter-canine distance was 37.96 mm [39.66 mm in males and 36.38 mm in females]. The mean mouth width was 50.66 mm [52.85 mm in males and 48.63 mm in females]. The maxillary inter-canine distance was 75% of mouth width; therefore, the mouth width is a reliable predictor of the maxillary inter-canine distance and vice versa in the Arab population. Comparison between nationals from different GCC countries showed that Bahraini males had significantly wider mouths than Saudi Arabian males [P=0.034]. GCC Arab males had significantly wider noses, broader maxillary arches and wider mouths than females [P<0.001]. Anterior maxillary arches were found to be wide in males and females, which seems to be an ethnic characteristic in Arabs of this region