Comparison of mean upper lip length in individuals with competent lips, lips apart and incompetent lips

Abstract

Introduction: Lips competency is considered as an important feature in facial attractiveness and short upper lips are considered as one of the etiological agents behind lips incompetency. Therefore, this study was aimed to evaluate the mean of upper lip length difference in individuals with competent, apart and incompetent lips at clinically rest position.

Material and Methods: Total of 66 (n=22 each group) Class I and vertically normal angle individuals between age range of 12-19 years were included for their upper lip length retrospectively. Individuals were divided into three main groups based on inter labial gap at lips repose. Group 1- Competent Lips (inter labial gap =0mm), Group 2- Lips Apart (inter labial gap >0mm ≤4mm), Group 3- Incompetent Lips (inter labial gap >4mm). Upper lip lengths were assessed as mean and standard deviations. For the comparison of mean upper lip lengths among three groups, ANOVA test was applied. Difference of upper lip length between genders was calculated by applying Independent Sample t Test.

Results: Mean values of upper lip length for group 1, 2 and 3 were 20.04mm ±2.8, 18.81mm ±2.0 and 19.00 mm±2.6 respectively. The mean upper lip length for males was 19.61mm ±2.6 and for females was 19.07mm ±2.4. P value for difference of upper lip length among all three groups combined was 0.228, which was insignificant and p value for the difference of upper lip length between genders was 0.404 which was also statistically insignificant (p< 0.05 was considered as significant).

Conclusions:  This study showed statistically insignificant difference of upper lip length among individuals with various lip positions at repose and also statistically insignificant difference of upper lip lengths between genders.