A cephalometric analysis of the long-term, soft tissue profile changes which accompany the advancement of the mandible by sagittal split ramus osteotomies.

Thirty-five cases of mandibular advancement using the sagittal split ramus osteotomy technique were evaluated by retrospective cephalometric analysis of the long-term soft tissue profile changes. The cases were selected to form a homogeneous group. Soft tissue Pogonion and soft tissue B followed the respective hard tissue points in a nearly one-to-one ratio. Soft tissue Menton followed hard tissue Menton vertically, also in a nearly one-to-one ratio. The change in angle and depth of the labiomental fold correlated well with the vertical change of Menton, but not with the sagittal change of Pogonion. The mean values, ratios and regression equations in this study form a solid data base for long-term prediction.