Tweed [9] highlighted the significant link between the aesthetic balance of the facial profile and the positioning of the mandibular anterior teeth. Merrifield [10] later articulated that for an ideal facial appearance, a profile line extending from the soft tissue pogonion should intersect the upper lip, whereas the lower lip should either align tangentially or reside slightly posterior to this line. The aesthetic interplay and balance between the upper and lower lips have been recognized by Jang as crucial elements in defining facial attractiveness [11]. Specifically, the decision-making process must be approached with caution when considering surgical interventions because of the potential for irreversible effects on facial aesthetics. The NLA, a critical aesthetic determinant related to the appearance of the nose and lips, exhibits variability across different races, genders, and ages, with Naini et al [12] emphasizing its significance. Bernstein [13] identified the optimal NLA angle as 100° for males and 105° for females in Western populations, whereas Bae et al [14] reported an average angle of 95.80 ± 8.93° for Korean women in their 20s.
Additionally, preferences among Korean rhinoplasty patients lean towards an NLA ranging from 85° to 95°, favoring Asian aesthetic norms over Western ones [15]. In this study, no significant difference in the NLA was observed between the ASO and NASO groups before treatment. However, a notable difference was evident in the degree of change in the nasolabial angle after treatment, with the ASO group experiencing a greater alteration (6.96°) than the NASO group. This aligns with the findings by Lee et al [5], who reported that ASO led to more pronounced posterior displacement of the anterior segment of the maxilla and a significant adjustment in the NLA than nonsurgical orthodontic treatment. The ASO group showed a 6.96° greater reduction in the NLA, resulting in a post-treatment average of 102.75°, compared to 97.37° in the NASO group, indicating that normalization within the Korean aesthetic preference can be achieved through NASO. Lip incompetence, characterized by the challenge of closing the lips without strain, is recognized as a contributing element to soft tissue aesthetics [16]. The extent to which lip incompetence can be rectified is intrinsically linked to the degree of correction achievable in the underlying skeletal discrepancies or dentoalveolar configurations [8]. Nonsurgical extraction correction strategies, particularly for vertical skeletal open bites, dentoalveolar vertical excess, or anterior-posterior dentoalveolar protrusions, offer limited improvement owing to the constraints imposed by the existing skeletal or dentoalveolar framework. Thus, ASO surgery is identified as being more efficacious than nonsurgical tooth extraction correction in addressing cases associated with lip incompetence. This study demonstrated that the ASO group experienced a more significant reduction in the interlabial gap, both before and after treatment, than the NASO group. The change in interlabial gap was − 1.54 mm in the ASO group and − 0.20 mm in the NASO group. Initially, the interlabial gap measured 4.54 mm in the ASO group and 2.49 mm, which was within the normal limit in the NASO group, aligning with findings by Kim [7] that underscored the vertical and horizontal dimensions contributing to lip incompetence. Nonetheless, it is crucial to acknowledge a limitation of this comparison arising from the preexisting differences between the two groups at the outset. These initial disparities were mainly due to treatment planning and decisions made during diagnosis, which were predicated on the diagnosis of lip incompetence.
Lee et al [5] further elucidated that in patients with Class II malocclusion, the forward protrusion of the lower lip, despite a retrusive mandible, can often be attributed to lip incompetence or the forward pressure exerted by the protruding maxillary anterior teeth, which in turn displaces the lower lip downwards and forward. In the present study, the interlabial gap change was associated with the CK angle in the ASO group. Therefore, in such scenarios, addressing the protrusive aspects of the maxilla alone may suffice to facilitate the desired retraction of the lower lip, underscoring the need for a strategic approach to correct dental and skeletal discrepancies in Class II malocclusion cases. Hodges indicated that the lower incisors reflect a stronger correlation to tooth movement than the upper incisors do [17]. Kim et al [8] also reported that 1 mm of mandibular anterior movement in Class III non-extraction orthodontic patients regressed by 79% compared to soft tissue N-Pog.
For patients with Class II protrusion, a treatment approach that entails greater movement of the maxilla and minimal movement of the mandible may represent an optimal strategy for resolving maxillary and mandibular protrusions. In Class II skeletal patterns, the mandible is typically proportionally smaller than the maxilla is. Consequently, the decision to perform ASO on the mandible warrants careful consideration, as a reduction in hard tissue can lead to a corresponding reduction in soft tissue volume, which results in soft tissue B retrusion. Thus, the initial angulation of the anterior mandibular teeth and the projected extent of movement within the treatment plan are critical considerations. Deliberations over the necessity of mandibular surgery should be approached with caution. Although not explicitly analyzed in this study, an ideal aesthetic treatment plan for patients with Class II may involve comprehensive arch distalization through ASO procedures on both the maxilla and mandible (Fig. 3). This approach offers an aesthetically pleasing outcome by harmonizing the facial profile and dental alignment.
Tweed(9) highlighted the pivotal role of the position of the mandibular anterior teeth in shaping the aesthetic outcomes of orthodontic treatment. Despite this diagnostic approach being criticized for lacking soft tissue, the growing emphasis on soft tissues in contemporary orthodontic practices cannot be understated. This study reaffirms the significance of the mandibular anterior incisor angle (IMPA) as a crucial diagnostic parameter, reflecting a broader understanding of the interplay between dental positioning and soft tissue aesthetics. A notable limitation of this study is the discrepancy in the pretreatment conditions between the ASO and NASO groups. Specifically, the ASO group exhibited more pronounced Class II characteristics at the outset. Consequently, future studies should benefit from a larger sample size encompassing a wider array of borderline cases to facilitate a more nuanced understanding of the differential effects of ASO and NASO treatments on soft tissue changes.