Assessment of the most preferred facial profile amongst patients and Orthodontists

Abstract

Introduction: A key aspect of orthodontic diagnosis and treatment planning is soft tissue evaluation, which includes the assessment of soft tissue-profile esthetics. Inherent facial features as well as extrinsic factors such as hair style, complexion, and makeup have a strong influence on aesthetics, biasing the judgment of profile esthetics. Therefore, investigators have used profile line drawings and profile silhouettes to eliminate the effects of other facial features while studying profile. The aim of the study was to determine the agreement regarding the most preferred facial profile among patients and orthodontists.

Material and Methods: This study was carried out at the outpatient department at Islamic International Dental Hospital from August 2011 to February 2012. A balanced facial profile with class I cephalometric norms was modified with the help of a computer software Viewboxâ„¢ 4.0 Software (DHAL Orthodontic Software, Athens, Greece) to generate 7 profiles with variation in maxilla and mandible. Silhouettes of these 7 profiles were ranked by patients and orthodontists (n=80each). A scale of 1-7 was used with 1 being least attractive and 7 being most attractive.

Results: The normal profile (Profile C) was ranked the most attractive and the profile with retrusive mandible the least attractive. Significant difference was found in the agreement of ranking of the most preferred facial profile by the patients and orthodontist (p-value0.001).

Conclusions: Normal (balanced) facial profile was ranked to be the most preferred facial profile by both patients and orthodontists.