Cephalometric Evaluation of the Midfacial Soft Tissue Changes on Smiling

Cheon, Kang Yong; Shin, Dong Whan; Chun, Won Bae; Kim, Soo Ho; Kim, Eu Gene; Park, Hyong Wook; Cho, Jin Yong; Yun, Jun Yong; Seo, Mi Hyun; Lee, Won Deok; Suh, Je Duck; Lee, Ho

Abstract

PURPOSE
The aim of this study is to compare the soft tissue changes of the midfacial area at the repose position and the natural smiling position for the improvement of evaluation and planning in the orthognathic surgery.
METHODS
The total of 30 subjects, 15 male and 15 female, were included in this study. The metal point landmarks were placed at the cheek, orbital rim, subpupil, and nasal base. The movements of the landmarks were evaluated at the repose position and smiling position in the lateral and posteroanterior cephalograms. Paired t test and correlation analysis were used for the evaluation of the soft tissue changes statistically.
RESULTS
In the lateral cephalograms, the cheek point (4.49 mm in female, 4.87 mm in male) showed the most distant movement. All points presented significant movements, except the orbital rim and nasal base point in male. Cheek point presented significant positive correlation between the horizontal and vertical change in male. Subpupil point presented significant positive correlation between horizontal and vertical change in both male and female. In the posteroanterior cephalograms, the nasal base point (5.41 mm in female, 6.30 mm in male) showed the most distant movement. Subpupil point and nasal base point presented significant movements in both female and male. Nasal base point presented significant negative correlation between the horizontal and vertical change in both male and female. In the lateral and posteroanterior cephalograms, the positional changes of all points presented significant positive correlation with each other in both female and male.
CONCLUSION
The cheek point in the sagittal view and the nasal base point in the frontal view showed the most distant movement on smile. In the sagittal view, the subpupil point and cheek point moved anteriorsuperiorly on smile. In the frontal view, the nasal base points moved laterosuperiorly on smile. In both the sagittal and frontal view, the positional changes of all point were highly correlated to each other. These results may be used in the soft tissue references for the treatment planning of the dentofacial deformity patients.