Dentistry

Abstract

Do Facial Photographs Help In The Evaluation of Self Perception of Patients Towards Dentofacial Attractiveness?

Reddy Dhiraj, Gautam Rajaganesh, Mehta Kunal and Kalia Ajit

Objectives: To determine whether exposure to pre-treatment facial photographs influenced patients self perception of dentofacial attractiveness to undergo more comprehensive treatment.

Material and Methods: A total of 50 subjects of Indian population aged 18 years or older (25 in study group and 25 in control group) were selected. Photographs of the frontal and profile view of the face, both at rest and smiling were taken for each participant respectively. Only the study group subjects were given a printed copy of their own images to be examined at home between the initial observation period (T0) and 30 days later (T1). Each of the 50 subjects in the study completed a questionnaire at (T0) and (T1), regarding appreciation of their smiles and their facial profiles, as well willingness to undergo orthodontic treatment.

Results: In the Study Group 56% of subjects responded with a lower opinion of their facial profiles at (T1) than (T0), and 36% and 32% of subjects were willing to undergo more comprehensive procedures to change the appearance of their smiles and profiles respectively. In the Control Group no statistically significant change was seen in questionnaire answers between (T0) and (T1).

Conclusion: Unless exposed to photographs, patients generally are not aware of their facial profiles. Exposure to pretreatment smile and profile photographs influenced individual?s self-perception of dentofacial attractiveness and willingness to undergo more comprehensive orthodontic treatment.