Abstract

Aesthetics and facial harmony are directly related to self-esteem and perception individuals have of themselves. There is often a desire to make overall aesthetic changes through surgery in order to get a positive assessment of oneself. The aim of this study was to research the relationship between perception, self-esteem and desire for change; and points aesthetic anthropometric and cephalometric points, as well as malocclusions in a group of women. Twenty nine (29) Chilean women between 20 and 25 years of age were chosen, taking part in a survey on self-esteem, self-perception of facial normalcy, the desire for aesthetic change, and changes of self-esteem following surgery. These were subsequently associated through Chi(2) analysis, logistic multi variant regression and ANOVA, with distances between objective anthropometric marks based on Farkas research, and between cephalometric points based in Epker and Fish study. Facial normalcy seems mainly affected by right canine class (p=0.02), and left (p=0.015); right molar class (p=0.015) and left (p=0.04), as well as dental crowding (p=0.012). While greater exocanthion distance (p=0.04), alar base (p=0.03), subnasal glabella and subnasal menton ratios (p=0.02), are related to a perception of abnormality. Self esteem perception can vary in positive ways following an aesthetic change through surgery or orthodontic treatment. Dental, maxillary and craniofacial parameters are determinants of the aesthetic normalcy perception of these women, with nose and facial height having the most influence in this study. Further research is necessary to evaluate self-esteem and self perception of facial normalcy, as well as aesthetic ratios.