Three dimensional comparative evaluation of facial soft tissue thickness in skeletal Class II horizontal and vertical cases with skeletal Class I cases – An MRI study.

Abstract

Over the years, clinical concepts of facial aesthetics have gradually changed in two aspects, i.e. from analysis of hard tissue structures to soft tissue and the application of ethnic based norms for quantitative soft tissue evaluations.

Objective: The study was planned to evaluate and compare the facial soft tissue thickness in skeletal Class II horizontal and vertical cases with skeletal Class I cases in both sexes in sagittal and transverse plane.

Material and Method: The FSTT at various recognized 17 anthropological landmarks in three dimensions was assessed. MRI was done for 72 Individuals between 18 and 30 years of age having average BMI. The individuals were divided into three groups i.e. skeletal Class I, skeletal Class II vertical and skeletal Class II horizontal. Statistical analysis was performed were Student’s unpaired t test, One way ANOVA and Multiple comparison: Tukey test.

Results:  Parameters UILS - SLS’, PTA – A’, LILS – LI’, POG – POG’, IM – IM’, Z – Z’, OCC – OCC’ and SUP M2 – M2’ showed increased values of FSTT for males for Class II Horizontal growth pattern and parameters G - G’, PTA – A’, UILS – SLS’, LILS – LI’, M – M’, POG – POG’, IM – IM’, Z – Z’, OCC – OCC’ and SUP M2 – M2’ also showed increased values of FSTT for females in Class II Horizontal growth pattern.

Conclusion:  Maximum parameters showed increased values of FSTT with Class II horizontal growth pattern, followed by Class I average growth pattern and least with Class II vertical growth pattern for both males and females.