Cephalometric Differences In Male And Female Characteristics of Facial Soft Tissue Thickness In Various Orthodontic Malocclusions

Objective: To compare the mean facial soft tissue thickness between males and females in different malocclusion groups. Study Design: Cross-Sectional Study. Place and Duration of Study: Armed Forces Institute of Dentistry, Rawalpindi Pakistan, from Jan 2020 to Jan 2021. Methodology: Cephalometric radiographs of 230 patients were used to measure soft tissue thickness at seven landmarks: the glabella, subnasal region, labrale superius, labrale inferius, sulcus labrale superius, labiomentalis, and soft tissue chin. Results: Of 230 patients, 39% were of Class I, 21% of Class II/1, 26% of Class II/2 and 13% of Class III. The gender ratio was the same in all skeletal classes. The mean age of 230 patients was 18.36±2.29 years. The mean ANB angle and UI were 4.02±3.22 and 25.95±8.86. The mean ANB angle and UI significantly differed between skeletal classes. In contrast, the mean age of patients of different skeletal classes was not significantly different, with a p-value of 0.433. The mean FSTT measured from subnasal area (A-NS), sulcus labrale superius (RR-SLS), labrale superius (J-LS), labrale inferius (I-Li) and chin (Pg-Pg1) was significantly different between skeletal classes (p value <0.001). Conclusion: The facial soft tissue thickness was thicker in class III. The FST measured through the labrale superius (J-LS) of male patients was thicker than that of female patients in all skeletal class patients.