Long-term Soft-tissue Profile Changes Perceived and Measured Cephalometrically

Objective: Predicated on the importance of the lips in overall facial esthetics, this study evaluated the relationship between actual and perceived soft-tissue profile changes. Methods: Post-treatment and long-term follow-up (average 15 years) cephalograms of 20 extraction and 20 matched nonextraction patients were evaluated to quantify soft-tissue profile changes. A group of 100 orthodontists and 200 lay people indicated their preferences and the amount of change they perceived between the 40 profiles. Results: The extraction and nonextraction groups had similar dental protrusion and soft-tissue profile measurements, as well as similar ages, at the post-treatment observation. The two groups also showed similar soft-tissue changes over time. Significant (p<.05) sex differences showed that male lips became relatively more retrusive and their profiles became flatter than female profiles over time. Significant changes in the profiles were also perceived over time, but there was no relationship between the amount of change perceived and profile changes measured cephalometrically. Conclusions: The treatment modality did not have an effect on the long-term soft-tissue profile changes and there are no significant relationships between the amount of change perceived, the profile preference, and the cephalometric changes observed.