Gender Based Soft Tissue Growth Changes with Respect to Nose and Lips from Childhood to Adulthood - A Narrative Review

Orthodontics is centered on dental occlusion and facial harmony. Orthodontic treatment planning has evolved from Angle’s dental occlusion and hard tissue relationship towards a soft tissue paradigm, which prioritizes facial esthetics, balance, and harmony, recognizing that patients often value soft tissue outcomes more than achieving ideal occlusion, shifting the focus beyond merely aligning teeth and correcting jaw relationships. To achieve these, understanding the growth-related changes of soft tissues is crucial for an orthodontist. In the aspect of soft tissue profile changes, the nose and lips take an important place. This review highlights the developmental changes of the nose and lips from childhood to adulthood, with emphasis on gender differences.