Chin Profile Changes in Skeletal Class III Following Bimaxillary Surgery with or without Advancement Genioplasty

Abstract

Purpose: This study sought to identify differences in hard and soft tissue chin profile changes in skeletal Class III patients after bimaxillary surgery, with or without advancement genioplasty. Materials and Methods: The retrospective study was conducted based on cephalometric analysis of skeletal and soft tissue variables. Lateral cephalograms taken at 3 different time points were utilized: pre-operation (T0), immediately post-operation (T1), and at least 6 months (11.0±2.6 months) post-operation (T2). The 2 groups were matched for sample size (n=20 each). Data were analyzed using independent t-tests with Bonferroni correction. Result: Group N (bimaxillary surgery alone) and Group G (bimaxillary surgery with an advancement genioplasty by horizontal sliding osteotomy) did not differ significantly in terms of demographic characteristics. The soft tissue chin thickness of Group G increased more after surgery, followed by a greater decrease during the postoperative period, and was eventually not significantly different from Group N at T2. On the other hand, the mentolabial sulcus depth of Group G (5.5±1.3 mm) was significantly greater than that of Group N (4.4±0.9 mm) (P=0.006) at T2. Conclusion: Although Group G showed a statistically significantly greater decrease in soft tissue chin thickness during the postoperative period, there were no significant intergroup differences in the chin profile for at least 6 months after the surgery, except for the mentolabial sulcus depth, which was greater in Group G than in Group N.