Abstract
Changes in lateral soft tissue profile were investigated in 18 mandibular prognathism patients treated with sagittal splitting osteotomy. Further, prediction of the changes and postoperative positions of 21 soft tissue points was carried out based upon 11 hard tissue points before treatment, changes of four measurement items for the skeleton and 5 anatomic soft tissue positions by means of stepwise multiple regression analysis.
1. The amount of mandibular setback had the most substantial influence on the prediction of horizon -tal soft tissue changes, whereas vertical mandibular change exerted a great influence on the prediction of verticalones. In addition, factors other than the amount of mandibular set back some what influ-enced the soft tissue profile prediction.
2. Soft tissue profile prediction is possible with enough precision for clinical use by this method.
