Gender Determination and Facial Soft-Tissue Physiognomies Among Different Orthodontic Skeletal Malocclusion

Objectives: To determine the soft tissue physiognomies between different gender among a sample from Saudi Arabia who have different orthodontic malocclusions by using cephalometric radiographs.
Methods: 221 lateral cephalometric radiographs of patients aged between 16–26 years (male [n=114] and female [n=107]) belonging to central and eastern regions of Saudi Arabia was taken from Orthodontic clinics database among Riyadh and eastern regions, Saudi Arabia. OnyxCeph3TM (Image Instruments GmbH Olbernhauer Str. 5 D 09125 Chemnitz Germany) digital software was used to analyze the dentoskeletal classification of the sample as Class I (n=84), Class II Division 1 (n=42), Class II Division 2 (n=33), Class III (n=62). Burstone analysis of six linear measurements for facial soft tissue thickness (FSTT) was used. All statistical analyses were set at a significant level of when (P<0.05).
Results: Male patients with Class I dentoskeletal relationships showed thicker FSTT, the high significant thickness was seen near Glabella followed by the upper/lower lip and sub-labiomental sulcus areas. Male patients with class II division 1 showed a significant difference in FSTT at Sub-nasal, lower lip, and sub-labiomental sulcus areas. No significant difference of FSTT was found between genders among class II division 2 and class III patients.
Conclusions: The significant changes in facial structures of Saudis between the genders should be of great help for diagnosis of orthodontic cases in Saudi grownups.