The importance of using the entire face to assess facial profile attractiveness.

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this study was to evaluate the importance of using the entire face to assess facial profile attractiveness. The secondary objective was to assess the facial profile preferences of orthodontists, dentists and laypeople.

METHODS

Two original cephalometric radiographs of two subjects (one man and one woman meeting the normality criteria) and 16 modified samples of these radiographs were used. The 18 radiographs were then converted into silhouettes and printed twice: the entire profile (A) and the lower third alone (B). The silhouettes were randomly distributed into two binders A and B. A survey was conducted using three panels of evaluators: orthodontists, dentists and laypeople. The esthetic appreciation was quantified according to the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS).

RESULTS

Pearson's correlation coefficient was calculated to compare the scores of the entire profile with the scores of the lower third alone. The results showed that the orthodontists panel presented a much better correlation between A and B compared to dentists and especially to laypeople. A comparison of profile scores with the correlation coefficients shows that the profiles with the highest scores present the lowest correlations. The three panels of evaluators preferred the orthogonal profiles or profiles with upper lip protrusion over profiles with lower lip protrusion.

CONCLUSION

For profiles with values close to the norm, the lower face alone does not reveal the attractiveness of the entire facial profile. Hence, the importance of using the entire facial profile to assess the beauty of the face.