A Cephalometric Analysis for Evaluation of Changes in Soft Tissues in the Regions of the Upper and Lower Lips and Chin due to Orthognathic Maxillary Advancement Surgery

Effects of Maxillary Movements on Lips Following Orthognathic Surgery: A Retrospective Non-Randomized Clinical Trial

Introduction  Lips play a fundamental role in facial attractiveness and in decisions pertaining to orthognathic surgery. Objective  To assess the upper lip changes following Le Fort I osteotomy for maxillary advancement and/or impaction. Methods  In the present retrospective non-randomized clinical trial, we evaluated 3 groups of patients who underwent Le Fort I osteotomy of the maxilla. Group 1 (n = 35) underwent maxillary advancement, group 2 (n = 14), maxillary impaction, and group 3 (n = 11) was submitted to both maxillary advancement and impaction. The lip thickness of all patients was measured preoperatively, and the participants in each group were categorized into two subgroups: thin (< 12 mm) and thick (> 12 mm) lip. The primary (before orthognathic surgery) and final (after orthodontic bracket removal) lateral cephalograms of the patients were analyzed using the Dolphin software. Comparisons were made using the paired t -test and linear regression in the IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows software. Results  The length of the upper lip increased by 1 mm ( p  = 0.012) on average following maxillary advancement, and it decreased by 0.43 mm ( p  = 0.24) on average following maxillary impaction. In the maxillary advancement group, the change in angulation of the incisors predicted the incisal display ( p  = 0.03). In the maxillary impaction group, skeletal changes in the vertical dimension predicted changes in upper lip length ( p  = 0.033). Conclusions  Le Fort I osteotomy for maxillary advancement significantly increases the length of the upper lip. The assessment of lip thickness prior to surgery can help predict the postoperative results. Changing the angulation of the incisors can predict the incisal display. In maxillary impaction, skeletal changes in the vertical dimension can predict the changes in the length of the upper lip.

Prediction of Soft-Tissue Changes Following Single and Bi-Jaw Surgery: An Evaluative Study

Introduction:

Orthognathic surgery is carried out in the hard tissues; however, the patient perceives change in the soft tissue. It is important to accurately predict postoperative facial changes associated with each surgical procedure. This study aims to evaluate the changes in the soft tissues resulting from the movement of the hard tissue following single and bi-jaw surgeries.

Materials and Methods:

An evaluative clinical study was carried out on a total of 34 subjects which consisted of 52 jaw surgeries. Maxilla and mandible were considered as a separate entity even in bi-jaw cases for evaluation. Surgical procedures performed were either bilateral sagittal split osteotomy, Le Fort I osteotomy or both. Pre- and post-surgical lateral cephalograms were compared to assess the soft-tissue change at various soft-tissue points and were labeled T1 and T2, respectively. The points on maxilla were Point A and PrS on upper lip. The points on mandible were PrI and Point B on lower lip and Pog and Gn on chin.

Results:

All the points on the maxilla and mandible had a strong correlation between the hard and soft-tissue points except point PrS on upper lip.

Discussion:

Facial appearance is an important parameter in the present times which influences the social and psychological development of an individual. What patient sees is the external soft-tissue drape whereas orthognathic surgery is carried out on bony components of the face. Thus prediction of soft-tissue changes following surgery is an important part of treatment planning.