Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 18, 2026
05:25
Using Inducible Osteoblastic Lineage-Specific Stat3 Knockout Mice to Study Alveolar Bone Remodeling During Orthodontic Tooth Movement
Published on: July 21, 2023
Lip morphology changes following orthognathic surgery for Class III malocclusion
Rafiqul Islam1, Toru Kitahara, Lutfun Naher
1Department of Orthodontics, Graduate School of Dentistry, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan. rafiqdr_007@yahoo.com
The Angle Orthodontist
|November 13, 2009
Summary
Orthognathic surgery significantly improves the smile and soft tissue morphology in patients with Class III malocclusion. These improvements enhance lip positioning and mouth corner appearance, though some differences with normal occlusion persist.
Area of Science:
- Dentistry
- Orthodontics
- Plastic Surgery
Background:
- Class III malocclusion presents distinct soft tissue and smile characteristics.
- Skeletal discrepancies in Class III malocclusion affect facial aesthetics and lip morphology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate changes in lip morphology and smile aesthetics after orthognathic surgery in Class III malocclusion patients.
- To compare post-treatment results with a control group with normal occlusion.
Main Methods:
- 30 adult females with Class III malocclusion and 28 controls were analyzed.
- Frontal facial photographs were taken pre- and post-treatment, with 35 landmarks digitized.
- Paired and two-sample t-tests compared conditions and groups.
Main Results:
- Class III patients exhibited downward lip positioning and reduced upward lip movement during smiles pre-treatment.
- Post-treatment, smile characteristics improved, with wider mouth corners.
- Differences between treated Class III patients and controls persisted immediately after surgery.
Conclusions:
- The hypothesis of no difference in lip morphology was rejected.
- Orthognathic surgery leads to significant soft tissue improvements in Class III malocclusion.
- Surgical intervention positively impacts smile aesthetics in these patients.
