Esthetic Characteristics of Female Caucasian Beauty Pageant Winners

• Main Author: Hylan-Cohen, Jessica A
• Format: Dissertation
• Language: English
• Subjects: aesthetics; dentistry
• ISBN: 1267359641; 9781267359643

Soft tissue esthetics is a crucial component of orthodontic treatment planning. Currently, improved appearance is one of the most significant concerns of patients seeking orthodontic treatment. Few studies have been conducted to determine if previously published orthodontic soft tissue norms are in agreement with present criteria for an attractive face. Orthodontists have studied soft tissue esthetics in the past, but there is no current study that evaluates Mrs. America and Miss America facial soft tissue attributes.
The purpose of the present study is to determine if the previously published soft tissue esthetic norms are still representative of an attractive Caucasian female face. The null hypothesis tested was that there are no statistically significant mean differences for facial attractive measurements between modern day publicly acknowledged attractive faces and published norms.
A photographic study was conducted on prior and current beauty pageant title-holders. At certain Mrs. America beauty pageant competitions the following information was obtained: two-dimensional photographs of profile at repose, frontal at repose, and smiling frontal; eligibility questions, history of pageant titles; history of orthodontic treatment; and history of orthodontic retainer wear.
Based on the results of a one-sample t-test, there were significant mean differences between the two groups with regards to the nasolabial, nasomental, nasofacial, and nasofrontal angle, upper lip protrusion, lower facial thirds, percentage lower face percentage and interlabial gap (p=0.000 to 0.0024).
The results of this study indicate there are differences between current beauty pageant queens and previously published soft tissue norms; however, the majority of the variables were within 1% of the published norms. The findings of this study suggest the beauty pageant queens possess a class I soft tissue profile with a slightly decreased lower facial height. This research supports the relationship between an attractive face, a youthful appearance and a decreased lower facial height.
While the individual patient's esthetic concerns should be considered during orthodontic diagnosis and treatment planning, the results of this study provide norms and ranges of measurements derived from documented attractive faces that can as guides for orthodontist to help patients achieve their esthetic goals.