Facial morphology differences in monozygotic twins: a retrospective stereophotogrammetric study

To assess soft tissue differences between monozygotic twins (MZ) for the total face and between facial regions using three-dimensional (3D) stereophotogrammetry and quantitative surface-based 3D deviation analyses.

The study sample consisted of 14 untreated MZ twins (6 males, 8 females, mean age: 14.75 years) from the archive of Marmara University, Department of Orthodontics. The images were taken by the 3dMDface system, and 3dMDvultus software was used for removal of undesired areas and approximation of the images. Then, stereolithography (.stl) format images were superimposed using the best-fit algorithm using 3-matic software. The face was divided into facial thirds, and upper lip and lower lip + chin regions were created. For the comparison, 3D deviation analyses were performed, and a color map and histogram were created. The data were presented as mean deviation, root mean square (RMS), median, and interquartile range.

Between the facial thirds, there was no significant difference in soft tissue differences for mean deviation. A statistically significant difference was found between the upper and lower face for the RMS value. For the comparison of upper lip and lower lip + chin region, the only significant difference was for the RMS. When the data were presented as median and interquartile range, there were no statistically significant differences between any facial regions.

Lower facial third and lower lip + chin regions had the greatest differences within MZ twin pairs. The genetic and environmental influences might not be the same for different parts of the face.