Study of the Lip Morphology in Young Bulgarians

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the morphology of the mouth and lips in young Bulgarian adults of both sexes and to perform a proportional analysis by calculating six anthropometric indices. The study included 95 Bulgarian subjects (46 males and 49 females) aged 21--30 years. Three-dimensional images were obtained using a hand-held laser scanner (FastSCAN Cobra, Polhemus Inc., Colchester, VT). Twelve landmarks were placed to measure the following distances (mm): mouth width (chr-chl), philtrum width (cphr-cphl), upper vermilion height (ls-sto), lower vermilion height (sto-li), upper lip height (sn-sto), lower lip height (sto-sl), zygomatic width (zyr-zyl), and lower facial height (sto-gn).

Based on these measurements, the following proportional indices were calculated: (chr-chl) ´ 100/(zyr-zyl); (cphr-cphl) ´ 100/(chr-chl); (sto-li) ´ 100/(sto-sl); (sto-li) ´ 100/(sto-gn); (ls-sto) ´ 100/(sn-sto), and (ls-sto) ´ 100/(sto-li). The results demonstrate that all dimensions were greater in males than in females, except for the upper vermilion height, which was equal in both sexes. Statistically significant sexual dimorphism (p < 0.05) was identified in mouth width, philtrum width, upper lip height, lower lip height, lower facial height, and zygomatic width. In contrast, significantly higher values were found in females for three of the studied indices (sto-li) ´ 100/(sto-sl), (ls-sto) ´ 100/(sn-sto), and (sto-li) ´ 100/(sto-gn) compared to males (p < 0.05). The results confirm the specific characteristics in the facial morphology of the studied Bulgarian males and females and the need for these data to achieve accurate outcomes in various clinical disciplines.