V F Ferrario1, C Sforza. 1. Laboratorio di Anatomia Funzionale dell'Apparato Stomatognatico, Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia, Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: A method for the quantitative and qualitative analysis of the facial soft-tissue profile has been developed, and applied to analyze the pretreatment lateral head films of 240 orthodontic patients aged 8 to 14 years. METHODS: Patients were subdivided for sex, age, and skeletal class. To standardize for different facial sizes, soft-tissue profiles from nasion to pogonion were traced in polar coordinates without modifications of facial shape, and standardized for an equal skeletal vertical dimension. RESULTS: The method allowed a simple and rapid quantitative evaluation of soft-tissue profiles during facial growth. An approximate evaluation of the soft-tissue thickness at nose, lips, and chin was also possible. No particular mathematical knowledge was required at any step of the analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Facial soft-tissue size and shape were influenced by age and sex, and to a minor extent by skeletal class.
OBJECTIVE: A method for the quantitative and qualitative analysis of the facial soft-tissue profile has been developed, and applied to analyze the pretreatment lateral head films of 240 orthodontic patients aged 8 to 14 years. METHODS:Patients were subdivided for sex, age, and skeletal class. To standardize for different facial sizes, soft-tissue profiles from nasion to pogonion were traced in polar coordinates without modifications of facial shape, and standardized for an equal skeletal vertical dimension. RESULTS: The method allowed a simple and rapid quantitative evaluation of soft-tissue profiles during facial growth. An approximate evaluation of the soft-tissue thickness at nose, lips, and chin was also possible. No particular mathematical knowledge was required at any step of the analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Facial soft-tissue size and shape were influenced by age and sex, and to a minor extent by skeletal class.