Influence of mandibular sagittal position on facial esthetics

Objectives: To analyze the influence of mandibular sagittal position in the determination of facial attractiveness. Methods: Facial profile photographs were taken of an Afro-descendant man and a Caucasian man, as well as an Afro-descendant woman and a Caucasian woman. These photos were manipulated on the computer using Adobe Photoshop™ CS2 to produce— from each original face—a straight profile, three simulating retrusion and three protrusion mandibular discrepancies. In all, 28 photographs were evaluated by orthodontists (n = 20), oral maxillofacial surgeons (n = 20), plastic artists (n = 20) and laypersons (n = 20). The descriptive analysis was performed by calculating the mean and standard deviation for each group. Results: The straight facial profile was met with greater acceptance by Afro-descendant male faces and female faces. Caucasian males found a lightly concave facial profile with a more prominent mandible to be the most pleasant. After an analysis of skeletal discrepancies simulations, Caucasian males also showed a preference for mandibular protrusion versus retrusion. Females, however, preferred convex over concave profiles. Conclusion: The results showed agreement between groups of evaluators in selecting the most attractive profiles. Regarding male faces, a straight profile with a slightly concave face seemed more attractive and a straight facial profile was also greatly valued.