Soft tissue changes in patients undergoing orthognathic surgery

Orthognathic surgeries are performed for cosmetic and medical reasons. The basic changes in orthognathic surgeries are done over skeletal and tooth sections and hard tissue movements are accompanied with soft tissue changes. Furthermore, the patients’ response to the surgery and imitation of soft tissues from skeletal and teeth movements are very important. Therefore, this study was carried out in order to evaluate soft tissue changes in patients went under orthognathic surgery using profile photographs at Taleghani General Hospital in 1999. Methods & Materials: The study was a quasi - experimental one, using observation as its technique. Profile photographs in natural head position (NHP) were used. Three lines (true horizontal line, constructed vertical line, and tragocontal line) were selected and soft tissue landmarks changes’ were analyzed, considering true horizontal line and constructing vertical line. Photographs were taken before the surgeries and six months after IMF opening. The hard tissue changes were calculated with reference to cephalometric analysis provided before the surgeries and six months after IMF opening. Eight soft tissue landmarks and five hard tissue landmarks were used in this study. The study showed spontaneous hard and soft tissue changes during orthognathic surgery, while there was significant statistical correlation between soft and hard tissue changes. 1- Soft tissue changes are followed by hard tissue changes. 2- Considering age, sex, race, and medical history of the patients are very important before orthognathic surgery.