The frontal characteristics of esthetic lips and lips after anterior segmental osteotomy in Korean females / 대한치과교정학회지

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine firstly the characteristics of esthetic lips in Korean females and secondly to measure the changes of the lips before and after anterior segmental osteotomy in bimaxillary protruded patients. METHODS: Samples consisted of 30 models and 26 nonmodels, and 10 patients who had received anterior segmental osteotomy. Twelve linear measurements, 5 angular measurements, and the lip perimeter and area were measured. These results were compared for each group using unpaired and paired t-tests. RESULTS: Full face width, nose to chin, upper vermilion height and angle, lateral heights at the point of the tips of Cupid's bow, central bow angle, and the lower lip to chin lengths were significantly greater in nonmodels than in models. However, overall lip width, lower vermilion height and angle, tip-to-tip of Cupid's bow lip perimeter, and lower vermilion area were greater in models than in nonmodels. Comparison of before and after anterior segmental osteotomy revealed that the values for the upper vermilion and lateral heights, the angle to Cupid's bow tip lengths, and upper vermilion area of post-operative patients had become similar to those of Korean female models. Our findings demonstrated that Korean female models have a fuller lower vermilion & thinner upper vermilion compared with nonmodel controls, as determined by the vermilion heights, angles, and areas. CONCLUSIONS: It will be helpful for clinicians to use these measurements as guidelines for improving patients' facial esthetics.