Sung-Hwan Choi1, Hyemin Lee2, Jae Joon Hwang3, Hwi-Dong Jung4, Chung-Ju Hwang2, Jung-Yul Cha5. 1. Department of Orthodontics, Institute of Craniofacial Deformity, and BK21 PLUS Project, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea. 2. Department of Orthodontics, Institute of Craniofacial Deformity, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea. 3. Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, School of Dentistry, Pusan National University, Yangsan, South Korea. 4. Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Oral Science Research Center, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea. 5. Department of Orthodontics, Institute of Craniofacial Deformity, and BK21 PLUS Project, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea. Electronic address: jungcha@yuhs.ac.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: We evaluated soft-tissue thickness changes after bimaxillary surgery according to vertical facial patterns in patients with skeletal Class III malocclusion with mandibular prognathism. METHODS: Forty-three Korean patients (16 men and 27 women; mean age, 22.6 ± 4.1 years) with skeletal Class III malocclusion who underwent bimaxillary surgery were divided into 2 groups: normal-angle group (N group) and high-angle group (H group), on the basis of the presurgical angle of the mandibular plane relative to the sella-nasion plane (SN-MP). Changes in hard-tissue landmarks and soft-tissue thickness before and after surgery were analyzed from reconstructed 3-dimensional cone-beam computed tomography images. Postoperative soft-tissue thickness in both groups was compared with that in 40 patients with normal skeletal Class I malocclusion in the reference group. RESULTS: Group N (27°-37°) and group H (>37°) did not differ significantly in terms of sex and age before surgery. Preoperative pogonion (Pog) thickness was significantly less in group H (9.7 ± 1.6 mm) than in group N (10.8 ± 1.9 mm) (P = 0.042). Adjusted multiple linear regression analysis showed a weak positive linear relationship between the SN-MP before surgery and soft-tissue Pog thickness change (R2 of 0.361; P = 0.001) after surgery, but the area below the lower lips was not completely normalized despite surgery. CONCLUSIONS: The thickness of the soft-tissue Pog may increase slightly after surgery in patients with skeletal Class III malocclusion with a higher preoperative mandibular plane angle, but normalization in the area cannot be completely achieved despite surgery.
INTRODUCTION: We evaluated soft-tissue thickness changes after bimaxillary surgery according to vertical facial patterns in patients with skeletal Class III malocclusion with mandibular prognathism. METHODS: Forty-three Korean patients (16 men and 27 women; mean age, 22.6 ± 4.1 years) with skeletal Class III malocclusion who underwent bimaxillary surgery were divided into 2 groups: normal-angle group (N group) and high-angle group (H group), on the basis of the presurgical angle of the mandibular plane relative to the sella-nasion plane (SN-MP). Changes in hard-tissue landmarks and soft-tissue thickness before and after surgery were analyzed from reconstructed 3-dimensional cone-beam computed tomography images. Postoperative soft-tissue thickness in both groups was compared with that in 40 patients with normal skeletal Class I malocclusion in the reference group. RESULTS: Group N (27°-37°) and group H (>37°) did not differ significantly in terms of sex and age before surgery. Preoperative pogonion (Pog) thickness was significantly less in group H (9.7 ± 1.6 mm) than in group N (10.8 ± 1.9 mm) (P = 0.042). Adjusted multiple linear regression analysis showed a weak positive linear relationship between the SN-MP before surgery and soft-tissue Pog thickness change (R2 of 0.361; P = 0.001) after surgery, but the area below the lower lips was not completely normalized despite surgery. CONCLUSIONS: The thickness of the soft-tissue Pog may increase slightly after surgery in patients with skeletal Class III malocclusion with a higher preoperative mandibular plane angle, but normalization in the area cannot be completely achieved despite surgery.