Quantitative evaluation of influence of hard tissue chin prominence on perceived normal soft tissue facial profile

This study investigated the influence of hard tissue chin prominence in patients with perceived normal soft tissue facial profile. Sixty patients including 30 males and 30 females seeking orthodontic treatment were selected based on an average age of 21 years, with perceived normal soft tissue facial profile and no previous orthodontic treatment. Standardized digital lateral cephalometric radiographs of those patients were taken, traced and digitized to produce the values to quantitatively assess the hard tissue chin prominence according to COGS (Cephalometrics for Orthognathic surgeries) analysis by Burstone et al.3 Males and females with Class II and Class III profiles showed statistically significant differences in the chin prominence measurements (B-Pg value); males with Class III profile had larger measurements than females. There was no statistically significant difference between male and female patients with Class I profile. There was no statistically significant difference among the Class I, Class II and Class III profile groups. In conclusion, this study has established chin prominence measurements in male and female patients with Class I, Class II and Class II profile based on COGS analysis by Burstone et al., 1978. This study may be valuable in diagnosis and treatment planning by providing specific chin prominence measurements in patients in spite of their perceived normal soft tissue facial profile.