Perceptions of chin asymmetries among dental professionals and laypersons.

Abstract

Previous studies have looked at a variety of dental and facial asymmetries and compared their detection by dental professionals with those of laypersons. However, few studies have analyzed the diagnosis and perception of chin asymmetries. In this study, we assessed whether dental professionals can recognize and diagnose facial asymmetries of the chin better than laypeople. Chin asymmetries were analyzed through a series of edited frontal photographs of 2 subjects (male and female). The transverse position of the chin was digitally altered from 0° (no alteration) to 6° (most severe alteration). Participant responses were collected from laypersons (n=64), nonorthodontist dentists (n=58), and orthodontists (n=145). Participants graded the photographs according to esthetic appeal using a visual analog scale. Statistical analysis produced diagnostic threshold levels for identifying chin asymmetries. Nonorthodontist dentists and orthodontists were better able to diagnose transverse chin asymmetry in the female subject at a lower threshold level of 2° of deviation, compared with laypersons at a 3° deviation. Orthodontists could diagnose transverse chin asymmetry in the male subject at a lower threshold level of 1° of deviation, compared with laypersons and nonorthodontist dentists at a 2° deviation. All 3 groups of raters graded very small or no chin asymmetries (1° and 0°) as more attractive, whereas high degrees of chin asymmetries (5° and 6°) were graded as most unattractive by all 3 groups. Transverse asymmetries of the chin influence the perception of facial attractiveness by laypersons, nonorthodontist dentists, and orthodontists. Subjects with small asymmetries are graded as most attractive, and subjects with large asymmetries are graded as least attractive. Orthodontists were the harshest graders, followed by the nonorthodontist dentists, whereas laypersons were the most lenient. The accuracy of diagnosing chin asymmetries varied among laypersons, nonorthodontist dentists, and orthodontists. Laypersons were the least accurate in diagnosing transverse chin asymmetries in a female subject, and they were just as accurate as nonorthodontist dentists when diagnosing this asymmetry in a male subject. Nonorthodontist dentists were just as accurate as orthodontists when diagnosing transverse chin asymmetries in a female subject, and orthodontists were the most accurate in diagnosing transverse chin asymmetries in a male subject.