title: Comparisons of soft tissue chin thickness in adult patients with various mandibular divergence patterns.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the association between soft tissue at the chin (STC) thickness and mandibular divergence.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nongrowing patients seeking orthodontic treatment (n  =  190; 113 women and 77 men), who had an average age of 26.94 years (range  =  18.10-53.50 years), were stratified in four subgroups based on cephalometric mandibular plane inclination to anterior cranial base (MP/SN): low  =  MP/SN ≤ 27° (n  =  48); medium-low  =  27° < MP/SN ≤ 32° (n  =  60); medium-high  =  32° < MP/SN < 37° (n  =  37); and high  =  MP/SN ≥ 37° (n  =  45). The STC thicknesses were measured at pogonion (Pog), gnathion (Gn), and menton (Me). Group differences were evaluated with two-way analysis of variance and Student's t-test. The Pearson product moment correlation gauged associations between parameters.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The STC values were greater in men than women (P < .02) and were smaller in the high group (7.47 ± 2.42 mm) than in all other groups at Gn (mean values  =  9.00 mm < STC < 9.58 mm; P < .001) and at Me (high group  =  6.30 ± 1.89 mm; other groups  =  7.15 mm < STC< 7.57 mm; P  =  .011).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The STC is thinner at Gn and Me in hyperdivergent facial patterns, apparently in contrast to Pog. This differential thickness warrants focused research as it implies that it is possible (1) to vertically grow hard tissues impinging on the inferior soft tissue envelope in patients with severe hyperdivergence and (2) to plan for genioplasty in such patients when more advancement of the chin might be needed to compensate for the increased vertical height.
authors.affiliation: a  Assistant Professor, Division of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon.
authors.forename: Anthony Tannous
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Macari
authors.forename: Antoine Elias
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Hanna
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002508:Cephalometry / Q000379:methods*; D002680:Chin / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000473:pathology*; D008437:Maxilla / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009295:Nasal Bone / Q000473:pathology; D010159:Palate / Q000473:pathology; D012658:Sella Turcica / Q000473:pathology; D012737:Sex Factors; D019291:Skull Base / Q000473:pathology; D014716:Vertical Dimension; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Adult; Chin; Divergence; Mandible; Soft tissue; Thickness