Abstract
ObjectiveTo evaluate the potential influence of muscular capacity and facial morphology on facial expressions in children.Materials and methodsA cross‐sectional study was carried out on 40 healthy children (ages 9–13), without previous orthodontic treatment. Masseter muscle thickness and anthropometric facial proportions were measured using ultrasound and digital calipers respectively. A three‐dimensional infrared face‐tracking system was used to register facial expressions. The maximal amplitude of smile and lip pucker (representing maximal lateral and medial commissure movement) were used for analysis. Stepwise regression was used to investigate whether muscle thickness or anthropometric facial proportions were associated with the quantity of commissure movement.ResultsWhen performing maximal smile, children with thicker masseter muscles were found to have more limited displacement of the commissures (R = 0.39; p = 0.036). When performing lip pucker, children with thicker masseter muscles were found to have greater commissure movement (R = 0.40; p = 0.030). No significant associations were found between anthropometric facial proportions and facial expressions.ConclusionMasseter muscle thickness seems to be associated with facial expressions in children. Those with thicker muscles show more limited commissure movement when smiling, but greater movement with lip pucker. This indicates that masticatory muscles may serve as a surrogate for mimic muscle activity. Facial morphology of the subjects does not seem to be associated with facial expression.
Highlights
The analysis of facial expressions in relation to orthodontic treatment has long been a question of interest in orthodontics (Reychler, 1965).Bibliographic analysis, shows that orthodontic research rarely focuses on such patient-centered outcomes (Tsichlaki & O'Brien, 2014), despite the common understanding that research should measure the real potential benefit that is relevant to patientsClin Exp Dent Res. 2021;7:877–883.wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/cre2 GUÉDAT ET AL.(Fleming et al, 2016)
The present study evaluated the association between masseter muscle thickness, anthropometric facial measurements, and facial
Thicker masseter muscles in children are associated with greater commissure movement during lip pucker
Summary
The analysis of facial expressions in relation to orthodontic treatment has long been a question of interest in orthodontics (Reychler, 1965). We can hypothesize that the activity of the neighboring muscles of facial expression may be related to the functional capacity of the masticatory muscles, and facial morphology, this has never been adequately investigated. Our hypothesis was that children with a well-developed masticatory system, and a brachycephalic facial morphology, show greater perioral commissure movement when preforming facial expressions. This hypothesis is based on the aforementioned studies and the notion that the increased functional capacity of a muscle, or group of muscles, can lead to an increase in the range of motion. We aimed to evaluate the potential influence of the masticatory muscular capacity as well as facial morphology on facial expressions in children
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