Possibilities of Soft Tissue Analysis in Orthodontics

Nakon što je tridesetih godina prošlog stoljeća standardizirana rendgenkefalometrijska tehnika, važnost mekih tkiva došla je u drugi plan, a odlučujući čimbenik u analizi lica postali su dentoskeletni odnosi. Tek se početkom šezdesetih godina prošlog stoljeća počelo shvaćati da bi odnos između mekih tkiva i skeletalnih struktura mogao biti potpuno različit. Mnogobrojna istraživanja koja su se bavila psihološkim aspektom malokluzija pokazala su da se pacijenti ne bi trebali tretirati isključivo prema rigidnim dentoskeletalnim standardima. Ortodonti i maksilofacijalni kirurzi posljednjih godina tijekom planiranja terapije sve više promatraju meka tkiva te se oslanjaju više na kliničku sliku nego na kefalometrijsku analizu, s obzirom na to da isključivo oslanjanje na kefalometrijsku analizu ponekad može završiti neželjenim izgledom lica. U pregledu literature su radovi autora koji su se bavili proučavanjem i analizom mekih tkiva, utjecajem ortodontske terapije na meka tkiva te promjenama na mekim tkivima koje nastaju kao posljedica rasta i razvoja.After standardisation of radiographic technique during the 1930s the importance of soft tissues were of secondary importance and dentoskeletal relations became the decisive factor in facial analysis. However, at the beginning the 1960s it was observed that the relation between soft tissues and skeletal structures could differ considerably. The many investigations engaged in the psychological aspect of malocclusion indicated that the patient should not be treated exclusively in accordance with rigid dentoskeletal standards. More recently, when planning therapy, orthodontists and maxillofacial surgeons increasingly consider the soft tissues and rely more on the clinical condition than on cephalometric analysis, in view of the fact that exclusive reliance on cephalometric analysis can occasionally lead to an undesired facial appearance. Through a review of the literature the investigations of authors has been presented who have been engaged in the study and analysis of soft tissues, influence of orthodontic treatment on soft tissues and changes in soft tissues which occur as a result of growth and development