Correlation between the attractiveness of the facial components and the smiling face in males and females

Abstract

Objectives: Esthetics is the main reason for seeking orthodontic treatment, demonstrating the importance of smile attractiveness in human relations. Therefore, this study aimed to quantify the influence of the smile and other facial components on overall facial attractiveness. Methods: Eight laypersons evaluated the attractiveness of 60 adults (30 men, 30 women) before orthodontic treatment using a visual analog scale. Pearson and stepwise correlations were carried out between the smiling face’s attractiveness and the attractiveness of the facial components: upper two-thirds, lower third, and smile. Results: For the entire sample, strong to moderate correlations were found between facial attractiveness and the smile (r = 0.71), the lower third (r = 0.70), and the upper two-thirds of the face (r = 0.42). When divided by gender, the facial parts’ correlation values were moderate and similar among each other in men, while in women, the face showed strong correlations with the smile (r = 0.83) and the attractiveness of the face’s lower third (r = 0.75). Conclusions: In general, correlations were found between the attractiveness of the smiling face and the components. In males, the lower third of the face accounted for 66% of the variation in facial attractiveness. In females, 83% of the variance in facial attractiveness could be ascribed to smile, with the value increasing only to 86% when the upper two-thirds were added.