This study was undertaken to analyze the changes of frontal face of skeletal class III malocculusion following sagittal splitting ramus osteotomy.
Cephalograms (lateral and frontal) and facial photographs of ten cases were used as samples. Facial width and height of the ear, nose, lip, and chin were measured. The soft tissue changes were analyzed by the ratio of the facial width/height. The hard tissue changes were analyzed by the ascending angle (∠ AS. A), AG-GA width, and FH-Me.
The results were as follows:
1. The facial width of the nose and ear increased.
2. The facial height of the lip and chin was decreased.
3. The ratio of the facial width/height was increased for the lip and chin.
4. Consequently, a little increase in skeletal width of the frontal faces and decrease in the skeletal height of the frontal face were recognized.
The interrelationship between the soft and hard tissue changes was not identified.
The above-mentioned results suggested that the changes of the frontal face following sagittal splitting ramus osteotomy mainly occur at the lip and chin.
