Distinguishing Hard and Soft Tissue Facial Morphology Among Class I and Class Iii Children: A Cephalometric Assessment

Abstract

Aim:To assess the sagittal soft and hard soft tissue morphology of growing Class III patients in comparison with a Class I control subjects. Materials and Methods: Forty-one female children with Class III malocclusion and 30 Class I female children were included in the study. Eight linear and 6 angular measurements were made on lateral cephalograms to evaluate soft tissue and skeletal characteristics. Results: The subjects with Class III malocclusion showed a retrusive maxilla (A-y distance, 48.52±2.53) and upper lip (Ss-y distance, 64.14±3.26), a protrusive mandible (B-y distance, 56.15±5.49) a prominent chin (Pog'-y distance, 70.65±6.87), retroclined lower incisors (IMPA, 87.14±5.68), and increased vertical dimensions (SN-GoMe, 36.49±5.29) compared to control subjects. Conclusions: Our findings indicated that soft and hard tissue characteristics of Class III subjects are distinct from Class I subjects in the middle region and lower third of the face. Orthopedic traction of mid-face arguably started earlier as a first treatment protocol to obtain balanced facial profile in Class III subjects.