Hard to Soft Tissue Profile Changes in Skeletal Class III Dentofacial Deformities After Maxillary Advancement and Mandibular Setback Orthognathic Surgery

Objective To correlate the sagittal hard tissue movement and soft tissue changes among patients with skeletal class III malocclusion following bimaxillary orthognathic surgery. Material and Methods Fifty-nine subjects with skeletal class III malocclusion treated consecutively with maxillary advancement and mandibular setback were assessed for skeletal and soft tissue linear changes using presurgical (T1) and post-treatment (T2) lateral cephalograms. Pearson’s correlation coefficient test was used to correlate hard and soft tissue parameters. Results The sagittal hard tissue movement and soft tissue changes for all the parameters assessed in maxilla and mandible showed statistically significant correlations. The ratios of changes for the maxillary protrusion [N-A (HP)] to horizontal subnasale (Sn), superior labial sulcus (Sls), and labrale superioris (Ls) were 0.574:1, 0.703:1, and 0.721:1 respectively. The ratio of horizontal labrale inferioris (Li), mentolabial fold (Mlf), and soft tissue (Pg′) to mandibular protrusion [N-B (HP)] were 0.992:1, 0.970:1, and 0.590:1 respectively and to chin protrusion [N-Pg (HP)] were 1.293:1, 1.252:1, and 1.001:1, respectively. The ratios were different for males and females in maxilla and mandible. Conclusion Sagittal hard tissue movement and soft tissue changes are significantly correlated. The soft tissue movement in the mandible were more proportionate compared to the maxilla. The sagittal hard tissue to soft tissues movement ratios were greater in maxilla and lesser at pogonion and mentolabial sulcus in females compared to males. The ratios obtained can be used for predicting postsurgical soft tissue changes.