Abstract:

Objective　The purpose of this studywas to compare the data of three-dimensional soft tissue obtained by us- ing a three-dimensional digital photogrammetry and the two-dimensional data obtained by using a conventional cephalometry.Meth- ods　Three-dimensional characters of facial soft tissue were obtained by using four digital cameras. The authors developed neces- sary 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 examinedwith both three-dimensional soft ti- ssue 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.Conclusion　There was a correlation between the three-di- mensional softtissue facial morphometry and facial cephalometry. The data obtained bythe three-dimensional softtissue facial mor- phometry can partially represent facial hard tissue.

Key words: three-dimensional soft tissue facial morphometry, cephalometry, normal occlusion