Master’s Degree Awarded to Ms. Khulood Rafiq Al-Ammari in Orthodontics
Ms. Khulood Rafiq Mohammed Ali Al-Ammari was awarded a Master’s Degree in Orthodontics for her thesis titled: Cephalometric Evaluation of Sagittal Lip Position in Different Skeletal Malocclusions, which was submitted to the Faculty of Dentistry – Sana’a University. The MA defense was held on Thursday, April 9, 2026 .
The MA Viva-voce Committee, which was formed based on a resolution issued by the Graduate Studies and Scientific Research Council, consisted of the following:
| # | Committee Members | Designation | Position |
| 1 | Prof. Yasser Ali Thabet | External Examiner | Chair |
| 2 | Prof. Ghamdan Abdullah Al-Harari | Main Supervisor | Member |
| 3 | Asst. Prof. Naela Mohammed Al-Mujahid | Internal Examiner | Member |
The thesis aimed to:
- Evaluate the sagittal position of the upper and lower lips relative to five cephalometric reference lines (H Line, E Line, B Line, S Line, and Sushner’s Line) using lateral radiographs.
- Compare lip position measurements across skeletal patterns (Class I, Class II, and Class III).
- Assess gender differences within each skeletal pattern.
- Determine the reliability of reference lines in distinguishing lip positions.
- Establish normative values for sagittal lip position among Yemeni adults.
- Analyze the relationship between sagittal lip position and the ANB angle.
The study yielded several key findings summarized as follows:
- There were statistically significant differences in sagittal lip position among Class I, Class II, and Class III patterns.
- Class II cases exhibited more protrusive lips, while Class III cases showed more retrusive lips.
- S Line, B Line, and E Line demonstrated the highest discriminatory ability between skeletal patterns, whereas H Line and Sushner’s Line showed lower effectiveness.
- A significant positive correlation was found between the ANB angle and lip position relative to S and B Lines, and a negative correlation with the E Line.
- No consistent statistically significant gender differences were observed within each skeletal pattern..
In light of these findings, the researcher recommended the following:
- Applying the derived normative values for Yemeni adults in orthodontic diagnosis and treatment planning.
- Using multiple reference lines for more accurate assessment of sagittal lip position.
- Considering ethnic variations rather than relying solely on global standards.
- Conducting future studies on different age groups and vertical skeletal patterns.
- Utilizing three-dimensional imaging techniques for comprehensive soft tissue evaluation.
- Incorporating aesthetic assessment questionnaires to link objective cephalometric measurements with subjective aesthetic perception relevant to the community.
The defense session was attended by a number of academics, researchers, students, colleagues, and the researcher’s family.
