Facial Soft Tissue Thickness Differences among Three Skeletal Classes in Korean Population Using CBCT

Abstract

Studies related to facial soft tissue thickness (FSTT) have been conducted since the late 19th century. Soft tissue is any tissue in the body that is not hardened by ossification or calcification processes, such as bones and teeth; and varies according to sex, age, race, and nutritional status. Forensically, soft tissue thickness plays an important role in cases where a cadaver has no unique characteristics; and the remains cannot be identified through DNA analysis, fingerprints, or examination of dental records. Therefore, the results of the current study suggest that the average thickness of the three skeletal classes (i.e., straight, concave, and convex) should be used for face restoration and forensic art research. It is thought that the current study’s results will be invaluable in the fields of forensic science, forensic art, anthropology, and dentistry. As a result, gender differences were observed in all classes, and the facial tissue thickness in Korean adults differed according to gender and occlusion type.