The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effects of orthodontic
treatment on the soft tissue facial profile of patients with long and shor
t facial types. Orthodontic treatment records of 99 white long-faced and sh
ort-faced patients were analyzed to determine the effects of edgewise ortho
dontic treatment over an average period of 2.16 +/- 0.32 years. The average
ages at the initiation and conclusion of treatment were 13.40 +/- 0.40 yea
rs and 15.61 +/- 0.29 years, respectively. A significant finding in this st
udy was the large variability in soft tissue response to tooth movement. Th
is variability was due to a wide dispersion of individual results between u
pper and lower lip change to maxillary and mandibular incisor movement ante
riorly or posteriorly. Because of this soft tissue variability among indivi
duals, definite differences between the long-faced and short-faced types co
uld not be identified, nor was it possible to establish definite ratios for
change in lip response to incisor movements.