Assessment of Nasal Tip Projection and Rotation in Different Types of Malocclusions in Maharashtrian Population: A Photographic Study

Introduction: Nose holds an anatomically strategic position on face which influences the facial aesthetics and soft tissue profile of an individual, making it indispensable to understand the variations in nasal features and influence of different factors on it. Present study aims at assessing nasal tip projection and nasal tip rotation among patients with different sagittal skeletal relations and vertical facial patterns in Maharashtrian population using photographic analysis. Materials and Methods: Records of 410 patients with age ranging from 17 to 25 yrs were selected from the institutional archives; to assess the nasal projection and rotation. Data obtained was divided into groups depending on the type of sagittal skeletal relation and vertical facial pattern and subjected to the statistical analyses. Results: Nasal tip projection was greater among patients with skeletal Class III malocclusion (mean 0.39) as compared to other malocclusion types, but did not differ significantly (P-value>0.05). Nasal tip rotation was clockwise among patients with skeletal Class III malocclusion and anticlockwise in Class I and Class II malocclusion patients, which was statistically significant (P-value<0.05). Amongst the patients with different vertical facial pattern, no statistically significant result could be obtained for nasal tip projection and rotation. Conclusion: The result of the present study gives an insight about the nasal features prevalent among different types of malocclusion, thus assisting the clinician in treatment planning and achieving good facial aesthetics with pleasing soft tissue profile.