Impact of Dental Midline Shift on the Perception of Facial Attractiveness in Young Adults

Abstract

Background/Objectives: The aim of this study was to quantify the threshold of a dental midline shift that would compromise facial attractiveness and indicate a need for treatment from the points of view of laypeople and dental professionals. Methods: Whole-face natural photographs of a male and a female model were digitally manipulated to create various degrees of upper and lower dental midline shifts through bodily movement of the upper or lower midlines as well as alteration of the axial inclination of the upper teeth. The samples were then assessed by two groups of observers (laypeople (LP) and dental professionals (DP)). Results: The lower midline shift did not negatively affect the DP and LP’s perceptions of smile attractiveness. The first significant loss of attractiveness was registered by the DP with an upper midline shift of 1 mm in the female model. However, the LP registered this at 2 mm. The DP registered the necessity of treatment at a threshold of 2 mm in the female model and 3 mm in the male model. LP identified the need for treatment at 3 mm for both males and females. The female model was judged more critically than her male counterpart by both female and male observers. Conclusions: DP assess the midline deviation more critically than LP. Both DP and LP were more sensitive to midline deviations in the female model regardless of their own gender. Both groups registered the need for treatment at a higher threshold than the reduction in smile attractiveness.