Reliability of soft tissue profile analysis in children

Soft tissue outlines from profile radiographs, with or without supplementary photographs, do not provide enough information to reliably assess the underlying skeletal pattern in children 8 and 12 years old. Assessment was less reliable at 8 than at 12 years of age. Prognathic patterns were not as readily identified as retrognathic patterns. Specialty training did not affect the correctness of these limited assessments.