Normal growth and development of the lips: a 3‐dimensional study from 6 years to adulthood using a geometric model

Abstract

A 3-dimensional computerised system with landmark representation of the soft-tissue facial surface allows noninvasive and fast quantitative study of facial growth. The aims of the present investigation were (1) to provide reference data for selected dimensions of lips (linear distances and ratios, vermilion area, volume) ; (2) to quantify the relevant growth changes ; and (3) to evaluate sex differences in growth patterns. The 3-dimensional coordinates of 6 soft-tissue landmarks on the lips were obtained by an optoelectronic instrument in a mixed longitudinal and cross-sectional study (2023 examinations in 1348 healthy subjects between 6 y of age and young adulthood). From the landmarks, several linear distances (mouth width, total vermilion height, total lip height, upper lip height), the vermilion height-to-mouth width ratio, some areas (vermilion of the upper lip, vermilion of the lower lip, total vermilion) and volumes (upper lip volume, lower lip volume, total lip volume) were calculated and averaged for age and sex. Male values were compared with female values by means of Student's t test. Within each age group all lip dimensions (distances, areas, volumes) were significantly larger in boys than in girls (P 0n05), with some exceptions in the first age groups and coinciding with the earlier female growth spurt, whereas the vermilion height-to-mouth width ratio did not show a corresponding sexual dimorphism. Linear distances in girls had almost reached adult dimensions in the 13-14 y age group, while in boys a large increase was still to occur. The attainment of adult dimensions was faster in the upper than in the lower lip, especially in girls. The method used in the present investigation allowed the noninvasive evaluation of a large sample of nonpatient subjects, leading to the definition of 3-dimensional normative data. Data collected in the present study could represent a data base for the quantitative description of human lip morphology from childhood to young adulthood.Key words : Anthropometry ; face ; optoelectronic systems ; lips. The dimensions of the facial soft-tissue structures (nose, lips, chin), their reciprocal spatial positions, and their relative proportions, are important components in the description of human morphology as well as in the clinical analysis of orthodontic, maxillofacial and plastic surgery patients. Apart from conventional 2-dimensional evaluations performed on radiographic films (Mamandras, 1984(Mamandras, , 1988Genecov et al. 1990 ;Lundstro$ m et al. 1992 ;Zylinski et al. 1992 ;Skinazi et al. 1994 ;Nanda & Ghosh, 1995 ;Prahl-Andersen et al. 1995 ; several 3-dimensional (3-D) analyses of the facial surface through stereophotogrammetry, moire! stripes, range-camera techniques, laser scanning, optoelectronic systems, or even CT have been proposed

Growth and aging of facial soft tissues: A computerized three‐dimensional mesh diagram analysis

“…In the 12-to 13-year-old group, most of the girls experienced their adolescent growth spurt with a particularly evident growth in vertical facial dimensions that surpassed male growth in the same direction (Ursi et al, 1993;Prahl-Andersen et al, 1995). Whereas females practically ended their softtissue craniofacial growth in this age group (Nanda et al, 1990;Ursi et al, 1993;Bishara et al, 1997;Ferrario et al, 1998bFerrario et al, , 1999cFerrario et al, , 2000, males continued their growth (and aging) even after 30 years of age (Nanda et al, 1990;Foley and Mamandras, 1992;Bishara et al, 1997;Gualdi-Russo, 1998;Ferrario et al, 1999aFerrario et al, ,c, 2000.…”

“…The analysis of the largest sexual differences in global facial morphology showed that males had a larger forehead, more inferior and posterior gonia, more inferior and prominent nose and lips, and larger mouth than females of corresponding age (Genecov et al, 1990;Ferrario et al, 2000). The largest shape discrepancies were observed in the facial lower third, which was larger, more anterior and inferior in males than in females, in the zygomatic region, with more anterior cheeks in females, and in the forehead, with a more anterior trichion landmark in females (Ferrario et al, 1999c).…”

“…The first three age groups (6 -7, 8 -9, 10 -11 years of age) included children in a period of rapid growth, when facial soft tissues undergo noteworthy modifications, and frequent examinations are needed (Ferrario et al, 1998b(Ferrario et al, , 1999c(Ferrario et al, , 2000. The 12-to 13-year-old adolescents (Ferrario et al, 1999a(Ferrario et al, , 2001a were selected according to the data collected in previous investigations (Ferrario et al, 1998b(Ferrario et al, , 1999c.…”

Photo-anthropometric study on face among Garo adult females of Bangladesh

“…The subject's face was well illuminated. Before taking photograph of each subject, one physical measurement was taken by a slide caliper between two angles of the mouth (chilion to chilion) 9 . By using this individual physical value, each photograph was converted into actual size.…”

The profile of upper integument lip of Baduy and the nearby living Sundanese in South Banten, West Java, Indonesia

“…12 Lips development in boys were larger than in girls, and attainment of adult dimensions was faster in the upper than in the lower. 13 The lips and the other soft tissues of the face sag downward with aging, and become progressively thinner with less vermillion display. Environmental influences during growth and development of the face, jaws, and teeth consist largely of pressures related to the physiologic activity.…”