To evaluate the perception of orthodontists and laypeople of facial attractiveness during aging in participants with acceptable, untreated occlusion.
Frontal and profile facial photographs of 24 participants (13 male, 11 female) with acceptable, untreated occlusion, taken during adolescence (mean age = 13.3 years) and late adulthood (mean age = 61.2 years) were used. Groups of 30 orthodontists and 30 laypeople scored the facial attractiveness using a scale from 1 (unattractive face) to 10 (very attractive face). Raters indicated the apparent age at T2 and the most and least pleasing facial structures. Three-way analysis of variance was used to assess the influence of sex, age, and rater group on facial attractiveness. Mann-Whitney test was used to compare males and females regarding the apparent age perceived by raters at late adulthood (P < .05).
Mature age was judged with lower scores on facial attractiveness (mean = 5.43) by both groups compared with adolescence (mean = 6.51). Facial attractiveness was not affected by sex. At late adulthood, females were considered younger by both groups of raters, while men were perceived more similar to their actual age. Laypeople were slightly more critical than orthodontists in the assessment of facial attractiveness. Thirty percent of the raters indicated the eyes as the most pleasant region and the chin and nose as the least pleasing structures.
Facial attractiveness slightly decreased from adolescent to mature ages. Women appeared younger than their actual age at late adulthood.
Author notes
Private practice, Dourados, MS, Brazil.
PhD Student, Department of Orthodontics, Bauru Dental School, University of São Paulo, Bauru, SP, Brazil.
Assistant Professor, Department of Orthodontics, Bauru Dental School, Hospital for Rehabilitation of Craniofacial Anomalies, University of São Paulo, Brazil.
Assistant Professor, Department of Orthodontics, Bauru Dental School, University of São Paulo, Brazil.
Professor, Department of Orthodontics, Bauru Dental School, Hospital for Rehabilitation of Craniofacial Anomalies, University of São Paulo, Brazil.
This article is based on research submitted by Dr Gabriela Natsumeda in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of PhD in Orthodontics at Bauru Dental School, University of São Paulo.