Soft-tissue changes in association with anterior maxillary osteotomy: a pilot study.

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this study was to investigate and predict soft-tissue changes in the forehead, nose, lips, and chin in association with anterior maxillary osteotomy.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

The sample consisted of 20 adult patients (seven men and 13 women, 29.1 years of age immediately before surgery). Both hard- and soft-tissue changes were evaluated using a set of lateral cephalograms taken immediately before and at 7 months after surgery. Pearson correlation coefficients were computed to examine the relationship between hard- and soft-tissue changes. A prediction model was developed using a multiple regression equation.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The findings were as follows: (1) Hard-tissue changes were only observed in the maxillary region. Soft-tissue changes included backward displacement of the subnasale and the upper and lower lips. (2) The highest correlation coefficient was obtained between hard- and soft-tissue changes in the upper lip region. (3) The horizontal soft-tissue change in the upper lip region was predicted using a multiple regression equation. These results suggest that anterior maxillary osteotomy influences hard- and soft-tissue changes in the upper lip region and that the response in the horizontal dimension in association with surgery can be predicted.