Perception of Facial Profile Esthetics by Iranian Dental Patients, Dentists, and Orthodontists

Background and Aim: Several studies have compared the orthodontists’, dentists’, and dental patients’ opinions with regard to facial profile esthetics; however, the Iranian population has been limitedly researched in this respect. Our aim was to determine the differences in the esthetic preferences of Iranian patients, dentists, and orthodontists with regard to facial profile esthetics. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, ideal facial profiles for both genders were chosen, and nine anteroposterior combinations for each sex were obtained using the Dolphin imaging software program. 132 individuals (44 subjects per group) were asked to rank the facial profiles from 1 to 9 (the least and most attractive facial profiles, respectively). Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-U-Whitney tests were utilized to compare the results. Results: The facial profile with a retrusive maxilla/protrusive mandible was ranked as the worst profile by orthodontists, dentists, and patients (males: 1.25, 1.52, and 1.45, respectively, P=0.128; females: 1.89, 1.84, and 1.59, respectively, P=0.745). The orthodontists and dentists rated the ideal facial profile as the best profile (males: 7.98 and 7.80, respectively, P=0.033; females: 8.05 and 8.02, respectively, P=0.008); howev-er, the patients chose the retrusive mandible as the most attractive facial profile (males: 7.82, P=0.043; females: 7.89, P=0.009). Conclusion: Clinicians must consider the patient’s idea about the ideal facial profile that he/she wants to achieve at the end of the treatment. Based on the results of this study, the Iranian patients prefer a more convex facial profile, which can be considered as an important factor in treatment planning.