[Utility of three-dimensional soft tissue facial morphometry and conventional cephalometrics in people with normal occlusion].
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to compare the data of three-dimensional soft tissue obtained by using a three-dimensional digital photogrammetry and the two-dimensional data obtained by using a conventional cephalometry.


METHODS
Three-dimensional characters of facial soft tissue were obtained by using four digital cameras. The authors developed necessary hardware and software systems and applied in stereophotogrammetry to obtain the data of three-dimensional facial soft tissues. A total of 40 people with normal occlusion, including 20 males and 20 females, were examined with both three-dimensional soft tissue facial morphometry and cephalometry. Three-dimensional soft tissue facial morphometry was performed, and their relations with facial cephalometry were analyzed.


RESULTS
Significant correlations were found between 6 pairs of linear measurements, 4 pairs of angular measurements and 3 pairs of linear distant ratio measurements. The data obtained by three-dimensional facial soft tissue morphometry and two-dimensional cephalometry was identical.


CONCLUSIONS
There was a correlation between the three-dimensional soft tissue facial morphometry and facial cephalometry. The data obtained by the three-dimensional soft tissue facial morphometry can partially represent facial hard tissue.
D000328:Adult; D002508:Cephalometry; D005145:Face / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008297:Male; D010780:Photogrammetry / Q000379:methods*; D011859:Radiography; D012016:Reference Values; D012886:Skull / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*