This study aimed to compare the perception of practitioners with varying levels of expertise and laypeople regarding the orthodontic treatment need and facial harmony in patients with increased anterior overjet. Three groups of observers (orthodontists, general dentists, and laypeople, in total n = 48) were asked to rate on images-using a10-point visual analog scale (VAS)-the facial harmony and treatment need of asample of 8patients with classII division1 malocclusion and overjets of 2, 4, 6, and 8 mm. Statistically significant differences were observed between the three groups of observers regarding patients with an overjet of 4 mm and above (p < 0.001). Treatment need was perceived at an overjet of 4 mm by orthodontists and 6 mm by general dentists, whereas laypeople did not perceive aneed for treatment in any of the groups (p < 0.001). Regarding perception of facial harmony, orthodontists had the lowest threshold (4 mm overjet), while dentists followed at agreater overjet of 6 mm or more (p < 0.001). Astatistically significant correlation between the noticed facial harmony and the perceived orthodontic treatment need was found in all observers (p < 0.001). The perceived orthodontic treatment need for classII division1 malocclusion increased with increasing professional expertise.
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