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Ethnic differences in upper lip response to incisor retraction.
Ralph Avon Brock1, Reginald W Taylor, Peter H Buschang
1Department of Orthodontics, Baylor College of Dentistry, 3302 Gaston Avenue, Dallas, TX 75246, USA.
Summary
Ethnicity influences upper lip response to incisor retraction, with black patients showing more downward changes and white patients more backward changes. Final upper lip position can be reliably predicted post-treatment.
Area of Science:
- Orthodontics
- Cephalometric analysis
- Soft tissue response
Background:
- Understanding soft tissue changes is crucial in orthodontics.
- Previous studies have not fully elucidated ethnic variations in upper lip response to incisor retraction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate upper lip response to incisor retraction.
- To determine the effect of ethnicity on this response.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective longitudinal study of 88 postpubertal females (44 black, 44 white).
- Analysis of pretreatment and posttreatment lateral cephalograms.
- Groups matched for age and incisor retraction amount.
Main Results:
- Significant differences in incisor inclination between ethnic groups.
- Black group showed more downward hard and soft tissue changes; white group showed more backward changes.
- Ethnicity significantly influenced upper lip response at subnasale.
Conclusions:
- Ethnic differences exist in soft tissue response of the upper lip to hard tissue changes.
- Differences at the superior labial sulcus were explained by initial lip thickness and incisor inclination.
- Final upper lip position after incisor retraction can be accurately predicted.