A comparison of facial soft tissue thickness in Anatolian pre-pubertal and post-pubertal subjects in relation to different facial patterns

Authors : Ayla KÜRKÇÜOĞLU, Can PELİN, Sinan CANAN, Ragıba ZAĞYAPAN, Zahira ŞAHİNOĞLU, Ömür Polat ÖZSOY

Pages : 7-17

Doi:10.2399/ana.11.152

View : 23 | Download : 11

Publication Date : 2011-10-01

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Objectives : Facial soft tissue thickness is important for forensic anthropologists, dentists and plastic surgeons. Forensic anthropologists use such information as a reference in facial reconstruction and superimposition. The purpose of this study was to measure facial tissue thicknesses separately for pre-puberty and post-puberty subjects with Turkish origins across different malocclusion types and to compare the results with each other and with values obtained for other races. Methods : The study was conducted on 402 healthy subjects. Facial tissue thicknesses were measured at 10 cephalometric landmarks in a computerized environment. Gender-based variations in facial tissue thickness were noted in prepubertal and postpubertal subjects. Results : Many facial tissue thickness values were observed to change in pre-puberty and post-puberty periods with respect to gender. In general, values were found to be higher in post-puberty males. Differences values were found to be the lowest for Class I and Class III females. Conclusion : Facial tissue thickness in both pre-puberty and post-puberty periods changes with respect to malocclusion types. 
Keywords : facial soft tissue, forensic anthropology, malocclusion