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Quantitative Assessment Protocol for Facial Soft Tissue Volumetric Changes with Stereophotogrammetry
Published on: December 9, 2025
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Facial soft-tissue changes after rapid maxillary expansion analyzed with 3-dimensional stereophotogrammetry: A
Asli Baysal1, Mehmet Ali Ozturk2, Ahmet Oguz Sahan3
1a Associate Professor, Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Izmir Katip Celebi University, Izmir, Turkey.
The Angle Orthodontist
|April 9, 2016
Summary
Rapid maxillary expansion (RME) widens the alar base in orthodontic patients. Soft tissue changes were minimal, with weak correlations between skeletal and soft tissue outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Orthodontics
- Craniofacial development
- 3D imaging
Background:
- Maxillary transverse deficiency is a common orthodontic concern.
- Rapid maxillary expansion (RME) is a widely used treatment modality.
- Understanding soft tissue changes post-RME is crucial for predicting facial aesthetics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate three-dimensional (3-D) soft tissue facial changes after RME.
- To compare these soft tissue changes with an untreated control group.
- To assess correlations between skeletal and soft tissue modifications.
Main Methods:
- Randomized controlled trial with 34 patients (17 RME, 17 controls).
- Inclusion criteria: maxillary transverse deficiency with crossbite, normal BMI.
- 3-D facial imaging and posteroanterior cephalograms used for evaluation.
Main Results:
- Transverse skeletal measurements increased in both groups, more so in the RME group.
- Alar base width significantly increased in the RME group compared to controls (P=.002).
- Pogonion soft tissue point showed a posterior shift in the RME group (P=.022).
Conclusions:
- RME primarily affects alar base width among soft tissues.
- Overall soft tissue changes were similar between groups, barring the alar base.
- Weak correlations were observed between skeletal and soft tissue changes post-RME.
