The influence of sagittal position of the mandible in facial attractiveness and social perception

Lorena Marques Ferreira de Sena, Lislley Anne Lacerda Damasceno E Araújo, Arthur Costa Rodrigues Farias, Hallissa Simplício Gomes Pereira

This study aims at comparing the perception of orthodontists, maxillofacial surgeons, visual artists and laypersons when evaluating the influence of sagittal position of the mandible - in lateral view - in facial attractiveness; at a job hiring; and in the perception of socioeconomic profile. A black male, a white male, a black female and a white female with harmonic faces served as models to obtain a facial profile photograph. Each photograph was digitally manipulated to obtain seven facial profiles: an ideal, three simulating mandibular advancement and three simulating mandibular retrusion, producing 28 photographs. These photographs were evaluated through a questionnaire by orthodontists, maxillofacial surgeons, visual artists and laypersons. The anteroposterior positioning of the mandible exerted strong influence on the level of facial attractiveness, but few significant differences between the different groups of evaluators were observed (p < 0.05). The profiles pointed as the most attractive were also pointed as more favorable to be hired to a job position and pointed also as having the best socioeconomic condition.