[Soft tissue and dentoskeletal profile changes associated with mandibular advancement osteotomy]

The aims of the present cephalometric study were to describe the profile interrelationships between soft and dentoskeletal tissues following mandibular advancement osteotomies, and to detect, if there were any cephalometric variables, that could contribute to an accurate prediction of the surgical effect on the profile. The presurgical and postsurgical lateral cephalograms of 14 consecutive patients (ten females and four males) who received combined orthodontic-surgical management of their mandibular retrognathism by means of a bilateral sagittal split osteotomy, and whose age at the time of surgery ranged from 16 to 41 years, were used. Lateral cephalograms with the teeth in centric occlusion taken before operation and one year after surgery were available for all patients. A computerized cephalometric appraisal was used, including variables corresponding to the sagittal and vertical relationships of skeletal and soft tissue profile, incisal relationships, soft tissue thickness and lip morphology. The statistical elaboration of the data was made by means of paired t-test, Pearson's product-moment coefficient of correlation and multiple regression analyses. Assessment of the results revealed that considerable facial changes and improvement took place following both operations. The skeletal and soft tissue facial profile was straightened and the posture of the lower lip was improved. Anterior movement at points B and Po was accompanied by changes at the corresponding soft tissue landmarks ranging from 59 to 122 percent. The changes of soft tissue pogonion, inferior labial sulcus and labrale inferius were found to correspond with 104, 122 and 75 percent of the movement of the skeletal landmark pogonion, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)