Visual perception of skeletal class and biotype in Spain.

The aim of this study was to determine and compare the visual accuracy of students and experienced orthodontists in distinguishing the different skeletal classes and facial biotypes using only lateral photographs. A group of 19 orthodontic students (4 males and 15 females, aged between 23 and 30 years) and 9 experienced orthodontists (three males and six females, aged between 30 and 56 years) were shown a slide presentation of 100 (50 males and 50 females) patients aged between 8 and 42 years and were asked to indicate the skeletal class and the facial biotype of each subject. Data were analysed using a one-way repeated measures analysis of variance, with Bonferroni post hoc adjustment for multiple testing. P-values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Only 32.75 per cent of the participants identified the facial biotype of the patients with respect to Rickett's vertical (Vert) pattern and 47.96 per cent the skeletal class. The students performed better than the experienced orthodontists (P < 0.05) but only for skeletal class. The results indicate that lateral photographs are not sufficient for determining the skeletal class or facial biotype of patients.