Soft tissue profile changes after mandibular setback surgery

Abstract

Background. The improvement of facial aesthetics is an important element of restoring the correct bone and occlusal relation. Planning and objectively assessing the outcome of surgical-orthodontic defect treatment in the craniofacial area is based on multiple measurements of cephalometric parameters performed on radiographs. Objectives. The aim of this study was to assess soft tissue profile changes after vertical (25 patients) and sagittal split ramus osteotomy (28 patients). Material and methods. The study included 53 patients with mandibular prognathism. The study group included 28 women and 25 men. The age of the patients ranged from 17 to 51 years. Lateral cephalograms (performed before the surgery and 6 months after the surgery) were used to evaluate the results of the treatment. The method proposed by Hwang et al. and the facial contour angle were used as a cephalometric analysis of soft tissue profile changes. Results. There was no significant difference concerning the changes within the value of the facial contour angle depending on the type of treatment (t = 0.401, p > 0.05). The absolute change of this parameter in the overall group of patients equaled 11.39° ± 6.84, 10.99° ± 7.33 after the EVRO, and 11.75° ± 6.49 after the BSSO. Conclusions. Both sagittal split ramus osteotomy and vertical ramus osteotomy provide similar improvement in the aesthetics of the facial profile, assessed with cephalometric measurements.