Aim:

This study aimed to compare the esthetic perception of profile silhouette of pictures of class II patients before and after treatment (extractions or mandibular advancement), according to a visual analog scale (VAS) among orthodontists, general dentists and lay people.

Methods:

A presentation of 18 class II adult patients silhouette was shown to three groups of participants (25 orthodontists, 25 general dentists, and 25 lay people) in two phases in an cross-sectional survey study. An initial presentation pre-treatment and a second one post-treatment, one month later. The presentation consisted of nine pictures of four extractions orthodontic cases (two maxillary premolars and two mandibular premolars): five males, four females, and other nine pictures with a dentoalveolar mandibular advance (Forsus® and/or class II elastics): four males, five females. To compare pre and post-treatment scores, an ANOVA test was performed.

Independent variables studied were:

sex, age, and previous or present orthodontic treatment of participants.

Results:

A total of 75 of evaluators scored 18 patient profiles before and after treatment. In the three groups, the post treatment silhouette scored significantly higher. Advancement treatment scored significantly higher than extractions, especially among lay people. Orthodontist gave the lowers score regardless of treatment. No differences were found between male and female scoring (p>0.05). The participants between 30-39 years old gave higher scores than other age groups(p<0,05).

Conclusion:

In our sample, class II orthodontic treatments did always improve esthetic perception of patients profile. Advancement treatment achieved a better esthetic perception than extractions, especially among lay people