Impact of dental and skeletal movements on the facial profile within the framework of orthodontic and surgical treatments

The impact of dental and skeletal movements on the soft tissues during orthodontic and surgical treatments is widely known. Most studies are limited to examining the repercussions of a dental or skeletal movement on a given soft tissue point. The uniqueness of the present study, carried out on 95 patients, lies in the examination of the impact of movements of various landmarks--2 dental points (incision superius and incision inferius) and 4 skeletal points (anterior nasal spine, point A, point B, andpogonion)--on 7 soft tissue landmarks (from the tip of the nose to soft tissue pogonion). The study was carried out with the purpose of providing a simple, practical, and accurate tool for clinical use to assist in treatment planning. This article outlines the main aspects of the tool while specifying its limitations and error margins.