Soft-tissue characteristics of Class-II Division-1 malocclusion in North Indian adult population: A cephalometric study

Abstract

Background: Facial harmony in orthodontics is determined by the morphologic relationships and proportions of the nose, lips and chin. For the correction of all malocclusions, the facial outlines should be regarded as an important guide in developing a proper treatment plan. Aims and Objectives: (1) The primary aim is to evaluate and compare the soft tissue pattern associated with Angle's Class I normal occlusion and Angle's Class-II Division-1 malocclusion in North Indian adult population. (2) The secondary is to access sexual dimorphism for the soft-tissue characteristics. Materials and Methods: Lateral cephalograms of 80 orthodontically untreated adult subjects, 40 were having normal occlusion with good facial profile (Group-A: 20 males-mean age 22.89 years and 20 females-mean age 21.27 years) and 40 subjects with Angle's Class-II Division-1 malocclusion (Group-B: 20 males-mean age 20.25 years and 20 females-mean age 19.67 years) were analyzed. Methodology: Lateral cephalograms of the subjects were taken in natural head position and were traced manually. 16 linear and 6 angular soft-tissue parameters were measured which were derived from the Steiner, Ricketts, Burstone and Holdaway soft-tissue analyses. All the values were compared using Student's t -test with a level of significance at P Results: Group-B males had decreased lower lip length, lower face height, nasomental angle ( P P P P Conclusions: Class-II Division-1 malocclusion have more convex soft-tissue profile, reduced nose length, Shorter procumbent lips and flatter chins when compared to Angle's Class I malocclusion.