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 Table of Contents  
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Year : 2016  |  Volume : 7  |  Issue : 4  |  Page : 124-129

Evaluation of influence of altered lower vertical proportions in the perception of facial attractiveness


1 Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics, Ahmedabad Dental College, Ahmedabad, India
2 Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics, Hitkarini Dental College and Hospital, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India
3 Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics, K. M. Shah Dental College, Vadodara, Gujarat, India
4 Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, Hitkarini Dental College and Hospital, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India

Date of Web Publication3-Jan-2017

Correspondence Address:
T R Shyagali
Staff Quarter, Hitkarini Dental College and Hospital Campus, Dumna Road, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh
India
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Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None


DOI: 10.4103/2349-5243.197454

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  Abstract 

Objective: The study aimed to evaluate the perception of facial attractiveness by the laypersons and the orthodontist using a series of silhouettes of varying lower facial vertical proportion.
Materials and Methods: Sixty-three orthodontists and 63 laypersons judged the attractiveness of the series of seven silhouettes of the single person with the varying anterior lower facial height (LFH). The silhouettes were modified using the Corel software. The participants were asked to record their perception on a visual analog scale of 10 cm length. Independent t-test was performed to know the difference between the orthodontists and the laypersons, and the difference between female and male orthodontists and the lay persons.
Results: Significant difference was noticed for different vertical height modifications. The master silhouette followed by the 2 mm decrease in the LFH followed by the 2 mm increase in the LFH was most preferred profiles by both the orthodontists and the laypersons. The modified silhouette with 6 mm increase or decrease was considered to be the most unattractive profile. There existed a significant difference between male and female laypersons for the lower face decreased by 4 mm and 6 mm silhouettes.
Conclusion: The esthetic perception in relation to the vertical height by orthodontist and the laypersons in this particular population is similar, and the preferred profile is with average to the decreased LFH. It is recommended that the orthodontist keeps the LFH preference during the execution of the treatment.

Keywords: Facial attractiveness; lay persons; lower vertical proportion; orthodontist; preference.


How to cite this article:
Soni J, Shyagali T R, Kulkarni N, Bhayya D. Evaluation of influence of altered lower vertical proportions in the perception of facial attractiveness. Int J Orthod Rehabil 2016;7:124-9

How to cite this URL:
Soni J, Shyagali T R, Kulkarni N, Bhayya D. Evaluation of influence of altered lower vertical proportions in the perception of facial attractiveness. Int J Orthod Rehabil [serial online] 2016 [cited 2024 Mar 29];7:124-9. Available from: https://www.orthodrehab.org/text.asp?2016/7/4/124/197454


  Introduction Top


The proportional relationship between the different craniofacial regions is the key to judge the individual attractiveness. [1] Many of the studies impressed the need of the set standards for the facial attractiveness. [2],[3],[4],[5],[6],[7]

Nevertheless, the cliché in this assumption is the variation in the facial pattern for different ethnic groups around the world. Thus, the generalization of the ideal measurements of the face is not an acceptable norm. [8]

The concept of beauty is subjective, and it has evolved since from ages, what constituted as beautiful face in the past might not be judged beautiful by the present generation. [9] The requirement of the day is to check the perception of the beauty of the faces by the laypersons and the professionals dealing with the facial attractiveness in their day-to-day life. [3],[6],[10],[11],[12]

The present study was taken up with the aim to evaluate the perception of facial attractiveness when the lower vertical proportion of face was altered using a series of silhouettes of varying lower facial vertical proportion among the Indian population.


  Materials and Methods Top


In this cross-sectional study, the sample of 123 participants judged the total seven silhouette photographs with varying degree of lower vertical facial proportion. The sample included 63 laypersons and 63 orthodontists. All the professional orthodontists who either worked as a faculty in different dental colleges or were doing the private practice were selected. The laypersons were selected from the Outpatient Department of Orthodontics. For the profile photographs, dental students were evaluated manually for the vertical proportion, and inclusion criteria included a normal occlusion with minor or no crowding, all teeth present except third molars, and competent lips. Individuals who have undergone orthodontic treatment and any prosthetic replacement of teeth were excluded from the study. Individuals who fulfilled the selection criteria were informed about the purpose of the study, and a written inform consent was obtained for utilizing their cephalogram for the study. The ethical clearance was taken from the Institutional Ethical Committee.

The procured lateral cephalograms were traced, and the different soft and hard tissue measurements were made [Table 1]. The cephalogram which fell under the normal cephalometric reading was chosen for the study.
Table 1: Frequency distribution of gender among laypersons and orthodontists


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The selected cephalogram was converted into a profile silhouette using Corel software. This was considered as the master silhouette [Figure 1]. The same was calibrated and was subjected to manipulation. The master silhouette was manipulated as per the recommendation of the previous study, [13] keeping SN and ME' as reference points. The lower vertical proportions were reduced and increased by 2, 4, and 6 mm which generated a total of seven profile silhouettes [Figure 2]. These seven profile silhouettes were coded as 1-7 in sequence which only the principal investigator knew.
Figure 1: Master silhouettes

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Figure 2: Various silhouette profiles by increasing or decreasing lower facial height

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The profile silhouettes were randomly arranged on a Microsoft PowerPoint which were shown to a group of laypersons and the orthodontists. Each slide was displayed for a span of 20 s. They were asked to record their perception on a visual analog scale of 10 cm length with 1 cm denoting as least attractive and 10 cm as most attractive score. After recording the perception score, the data were subjected to statistical analysis. Independent t-test and paired t-test were used to determine the difference between the scores of various profile silhouette photographs and difference of perception among laypersons and orthodontists, respectively. Moreover, the P < 0.001 was considered statistically significant.


  Results Top


[Table 1] shows the characteristics of the study population. Overall of 54% were males and 46% were females. Among laypersons and orthodontists, males were more in comparison to females who judged the profile silhouette. However, there was no significant difference observed for the gender distribution in both the laypersons and orthodontists group.

Comparison for the different modified profiles by the orthodontist is depicted in [Table 2]. There existed a significant difference for all the pairs of silhouettes expect for the pair 2, pair 3, and pair 4.
Table 2: Comparison of various profile silhouettes by orthodontists


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[Table 3] represents the data of comparison of different silhouette pairs by the laypersons. There was a significant difference for all the pairs except for the pair 2 where the comparison was for the anterior lower facial height (ALFH) decreased by 6 mm with the ALFH increased by 4 mm, and pair 4 where the comparison was between the ALFH increased by 4 mm with ALFH decreased by 2 mm.
Table 3: Comparison of various profile silhouettes by laypersons


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Comparative data for the judgment between orthodontists and the laypersons are depicted in [Table 4]. Statistically significant difference was noted for the normal profile, where normal profile was preferred more by the layperson than the orthodontist.
Table 4: Comparison of judgment of profile silhouettes by orthodontists and the laypersons


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The difference between male and female judgment for the different modifications of the profile is shown in [Table 5] and [Table 6]. There existed no significant difference in judgment between male and female orthodontists. However, there existed a significant difference between male and female laypersons for the lower face decreased by 4 mm and 6 mm silhouettes when the P value was set for P = 0.05.
Table 5: Gender-wise comparison of judgment of profile silhouettes by orthodontists


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Table 6: Gender-wise comparison of judgment of various profile silhouettes by Laypersons


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  Discussion Top


The facial attractiveness is subjective, and setting a particular norm is a difficult task. [5] However, the attempts have been made by various researchers to establish the norms for a normal facial from various groups of individuals with clinically normal or acceptable occlusions and good facial appearance. [14] The efforts of earlier investigators were in vain owing to the ethnic and racial factor involvement. Instead of setting the norm for the particular class, it's better to give an ideal proportion, which can be followed in any of the ethnic group. Moreover, the earlier literature also backs the use of proportional analysis as it removes the variation associated with the linear measurements. [5] This present study aimed to set the acceptability of the different lower anterior facial height modifications by the laypersons and the orthodontists. The modified profile silhouettes were judged using visual analog scale (VAS). VAS was chosen as the tool for judgment as it is more precise, rapid, easy, and readily accepted tool for scoring the attractiveness. [15] As it is acknowledged in the earlier studies, the colored or the normal facial photographs can have a profound influence on the genuine judgmental abilities; the current study utilized the black and white facial silhouettes so as to eliminate the bias. [13],[16],[17],[18]

Both orthodontists and laypersons chose the most favored profile as normal profile having a well-proportioned vertical proportion of face. Our observations were in accordance with observations made in earlier literature conducted in Western countries, where the straight facial profile with average lower facial vertical proportion was rated as to be most attractive. [12]

It was observed that normal vertical height followed by decreased by 2 mm profile silhouette photograph was recognized as the most attractive profile by most of the orthodontists and the laypersons. However, the normal profile silhouette was given a greater grade on the VAS scale by laypersons than the orthodontists, and the difference was statistically significant. While the silhouette, where the vertical proportion was increased by 6 mm followed by decreased by 4 mm was considered as the most unattractive profile by orthodontists. Even the laypersons judged the silhouette with increased vertical proportion by 6 mm as unattractive, but the second most unattractive profile according to their judgment was the modification involving 6 mm decrease in the vertical facial proportion. Nevertheless, the difference was not statistically significant.

Similar findings were also reported in the earlier study involving the photographs of the Caucasian male and female dental students, where the trend toward the increase in the ALFH was judged to be less attractive for the females, and in the males, the opposite was true. The clinician showed no particular trend in judging the ALFH. [11] However, the present study utilized the silhouettes of males only.

Concurrent findings were also reported for the frontal image attractiveness with modified lower anterior facial height, and it was also noted that the 75% of the laypersons wished to have the treatment for ±4 mm change in the ALFH. [18] On the other hand, it is reported that there existed no difference whether the LFH was decreased or increased. [19]

Contrastingly, in a study on the Turkish population, it was noted that the orthodontist judges the adult photographs with increased lower anterior facial height to be more attractive. Moreover, the increase in the mandibular plane angle in these adults was statistically significant. [20]

In one of the studies, profile changes mimicking the orthognathic surgeries were judged by the orthodontists and the laypersons. Interestingly, both orthodontists and the laypersons were less sensitive to the changes in the vertical maxillary position. [21] Unlike the present study, both the orthodontist and the laypersons were equally sensitive to the lower anterior facial changes.

The pairwise comparison of the different profile images showed no significant difference between the different modified images for the laypersons. Contrasting findings were reported in the earlier study of similar nature. The earlier study also explored the preference of treatment for such modified profiles by the laypersons and profile with reduced LFH were significantly less likely to be judged as needing treatment than their counterparts with increased LFH. [5] Even the surgical correction of the chin height was most likely sought in cases where the lower anterior facial height was >50%. [22]

The sexual dimorphism for the profile alteration was not statically significant in case of orthodontist group; however, in the laypersons group, the profile alteration by 6 mm and 4 mm decrease in the vertical height showed statistically significant difference between the male and female, with female laypersons preferring these profiles more than the male laypersons. Nevertheless, the previous literature lacks such kind of evidence. [5],[6],[23]

In the present investigation, the age-wise comparison of the judges for the modified image was not performed, but in the previous study, it was noted that the age of the judge also played a role in the preference of the ALFH, with the more casual attitude of the older judges toward the critical evaluation of the modified ALFH. [23]


  Conclusion Top


  • Both the orthodontists and the laypersons considered the normal ALFH was most attractive
  • The increased ALEH was considered least attractive by both the laypersons and the orthodontists
  • There was a significant difference between female and male laypersons in judging the ALFH.


The results of the present study will help the clinician to consider the patient preference of the facial profiles in the vertical dimension and to plan the treatment accordingly.

Financial support and sponsorship

Nil.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.

 
  References Top

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Ricketts RM. The biologic significance of the divine proportion and Fibonacci series. Am J Orthod 1982;81:351-70.  Back to cited text no. 1
    
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Sarver DM, Proffit WR, Ackerman JL. Diagnosis and treatment planning in orthodontics. In: Graber TM, Vanarsdall RL Jr., editors. Orthodontics Current Principles and Techniques. 3 rd ed. St. Louis: Mosby; 2000. p. 3-115.  Back to cited text no. 2
    
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Sergl HG, Zentner A, Krause G. An experimental study of the esthetic effect of facial profiles. J Orofac Orthop 1998;59:116-26.  Back to cited text no. 3
    
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Edler RJ. Background considerations to facial aesthetics. J Orthod 2001;28:159-68.  Back to cited text no. 4
    
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Johnston DJ, Hunt O, Johnston CD, Burden DJ, Stevenson M, Hepper P. The influence of lower face vertical proportion on facial attractiveness. Eur J Orthod 2005;27:349-54.  Back to cited text no. 5
    
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Michiels G, Sather AH. Determinants of facial attractiveness in a sample of white women. Int J Adult Orthodon Orthognath Surg 1994;9:95-103.  Back to cited text no. 7
    
8.
Iwasawa T, Moro T, Nakamura K. Considerations of the soft tissues of normal occlusal subjects with good face and Tweed triangle (author's transl). Nihon Kyosei Shika Gakkai Zasshi 1974;33:99-104.  Back to cited text no. 8
    
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Keshishian JM. Anatomy of a Burmese beauty secret. 6 th ed. Washington: National Geographic; 1979. p. 798-801.  Back to cited text no. 9
    
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Czarnecki ST, Nanda RS, Currier GF. Perceptions of a balanced facial profile. Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop 1993;104:180-7.  Back to cited text no. 10
    
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Knight H, Keith O. Ranking facial attractiveness. Eur J Orthod 2005;27:340-8.  Back to cited text no. 11
    
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Johnston C, Hunt O, Burden D, Stevenson M, Hepper P. The influence of mandibular prominence on facial attractiveness. Eur J Orthod 2005;27:129-33.  Back to cited text no. 12
    
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Ioi H, Yasutomi H, Nakata S, Nakasima A, Counts AL. Effect of lower facial vertical proportion on facial attractiveness in Japanese. Orthod Waves 2006;65:161-5.  Back to cited text no. 13
    
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Little AC, Jones BC, DeBruine LM. Facial attractiveness: Evolutionary based research. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2011;366:1638-59.  Back to cited text no. 14
    
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Phillips C, Tulloch C, Dann C. Rating of facial attractiveness. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol 1992;20:214-20.  Back to cited text no. 15
    
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Spyropoulos MN, Halazonetis DJ. Significance of the soft tissue profile on facial esthetics. Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop 2001;119:464-71.  Back to cited text no. 16
    
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Scott CR, Goonewardene MS, Murray K. Influence of lips on the perception of malocclusion. Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop 2006;130:152-62.  Back to cited text no. 17
    
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Varlik SK, Demirbas E, Orhan M. Influence of lower facial height changes on frontal facial attractiveness and perception of treatment need by lay people. Angle Orthod 2010;80:1159-64.  Back to cited text no. 18
    
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Maple JR, Vig KW, Beck FM, Larsen PE, Shanker S. A comparison of providers' and consumers' perceptions of facial-profile attractiveness. Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop 2005;128:690-6.  Back to cited text no. 19
    
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Erbay EF, Caniklioglu CM. Soft tissue profile in Anatolian Turkish adults: Part II. Comparison of different soft tissue analyses in the evaluation of beauty. Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop 2002;121:65-72.  Back to cited text no. 20
    
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Romani KL, Agahi F, Nanda R, Zernik JH. Evaluation of horizontal and vertical differences in facial profiles by orthodontists and lay people. Angle Orthod 1993;63:175-82.  Back to cited text no. 21
    
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Naini FB, Donaldson AN, McDonald F, Cobourne MT. Influence of chin height on perceived attractiveness in the orthognathic patient, layperson, and clinician. Angle Orthod 2012;82:88-95.  Back to cited text no. 22
    
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Cochrane SM, Cunningham SJ, Hunt NP. Perceptions of facial appearance by orthodontists and the general public. J Clin Orthod 1997;31:164-8.  Back to cited text no. 23
    


    Figures

  [Figure 1], [Figure 2]
 
 
    Tables

  [Table 1], [Table 2], [Table 3], [Table 4], [Table 5], [Table 6]


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