Change in lip vermilion height during orthodontic treatment

The extent that the height of the vertical aspect of the vermilion of the lips decreases during treatment may determine the ultimate esthetic results for a particular patient. Marked decrease in vertical height of the vermilion may prove to be esthetically pleasing for the patient with excessive vermilion; whereas it may prove esthetically disastrous for the patient exhibiting relatively small vermilion heights before treatment. Frontal esthetics should equal the profile in importance when treatment planning. The objectives of this study were (1) to quantify vermilion height changes when incisors are retracted, (2) to determine whether the pretreatment vertical position of the upper lip on the maxillary central incisor is associated with vermilion height changes, and (3) to relate vermilion height changes to incisor retraction. Cephalometric films from 40 adult female orthodontic patients (20 Class I and 20 Class II, Division 1) were measured with dial calipers. Significant decrease (paired t tests, P < 0.05) of the mean vermilion heights of both lips occurred during treatment in the patients with Class I relationships (upper 0.75 mm, lower 0.95 mm) and Class II, Division 1 relationships (upper 0.75 mm, lower 0.60 mm).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)