Abstract
IntroductionTo quantify average angular measurements that define the soft tissue profiles of 12-year-old southern Chinese and to determine gender differences.Materials and methodsA random population sample of 514 12-year-old children was recruited (about 10% of a Hong Kong Chinese birth cohort). Photographs were taken in natural head posture and 12 soft tissue landmarks were located on the photos to measure 12 angular measurements using ImageJ (V1.45s) for Windows. Approximately 10% of photographs were reanalyzed and method error was calculated. Angular norm values for the 12 parameters were determined and gender differences were assessed using 2 sample T-test with 95% confidence interval.ResultsThe response rate was 54.1% (278/514). Norm values for the 12 angular measurements were generated. The greatest variability was found for the nasolabial (Cm-Sn-Ls) and labiomental (Li-Sm-Pg) angles. Gender differences were found in 4 angular parameters: vertical nasal angle (N-Prn/TV) (p < 0.05), cervicomental angle (G-Pg/C-Me) (p < 0.001), facial convexity angle (G-Sn-Pg) (p < 0.01) and total facial convexity angle (G-Prn-Pg)(p < 0.01).ConclusionNorm values for 12 angular measurements among 12-year-old southern Chinese children were provided and some variability noted. Gender differences were apparent in several angular measurements. This study has implications in developing norm values for southern Chinese and for comparison with other ethnic groups.
Highlights
To quantify average angular measurements that define the soft tissue profiles of 12-year-old southern Chinese and to determine gender differences
Gender differences were found in 4 angular parameters: vertical nasal angle (N-Prn/true vertical (TV)) (p < 0.05), cervicomental angle (G-Pg/C-Me) (p < 0.001), facial convexity angle (G-Sn-Pg) (p < 0.01) and total facial convexity angle (G-Prn-Pg)(p < 0.01)
Among the 514 subjects, 45.9% (236) were excluded in the selection of photographs according to the exclusion criteria, providing an overall response rate of 54.1% (278/514)
Summary
To quantify average angular measurements that define the soft tissue profiles of 12-year-old southern Chinese and to determine gender differences. The assessment of the patients’ soft tissue profile is a critical step in orthodontic diagnosis and treatment planning. Achieving a pleasing esthetic profile is an important goal of orthodontic therapy, and can influence the treatment decision to extract teeth or not [1]. In the early twentieth century, orthodontic treatment goals were limited to achieving a functional occlusion and stability of the dentition. The introduction of orthopaedic and craniofacial surgical techniques in the 1960s and 1970s has allowed facial harmony to be incorporated into treatment goals [3]. The introduction of skeletal anchorage techniques has produced positive results.
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