3D stereophotogrammetry facial analysis of Angle I subjects: gender comparison

Abstract

Objective The aim of this study was to establish reference parameters for facial analysis in subjects with Angle’s Class I occlusion by means of stereophotogrammetry, comparing men and women. Material and method Twenty-six healthy young adults with Angle’s Class I occlusion volunteered to participate in the study, 15 males and 11 females, ages between 18 and 30 years old (22 years ± 5). These subjects were clinically examined to verify their type of occlusion. Twenty-five landmarks were performed in soft tissue, and those subjects underwent image capturing by the stereophotogrammetry technique, using the apparatus Vectra (M3-Canfield®). The following variables were measured in those images: naso-labial angle (C-Sn-Ls); (N-Prn-Pg); (N-Sn-Pg); mentolabial (Li-Ps-Pg); growth angle (T-Go-Pg), cheek area (T, Zy, Chk, Ch, Gn, Go), hemifaces' areas (T, Zy, Ft, Tr, N, Prn, C, Sn, Ls, Sto, Li Ps, Gn, Go), lip area, bilaterally (Ls, Cph, Ch, Li, Sto), and linear measurements of the lips and jaw. Result and conclusion The data were compared between genders (Student's t-test), and no statistically significant differences between groups (p>0.05) were found. Despite the limitations of this study, it is possible to conclude that, as there were no differences between men and women for the studied variables (angular, linear, and area), the data of the total sample (Class I) should be used as reference parameters in future studies. Additionally, the 3D stereophotogrammetry technique has proven to be a new possibility for facial analysis, which might be employed in several areas of dentistry.