Attractiveness of Modified Photographs of Class II, Division I Patients as Judged by Laypeople and Orthodontists

Background: There are two treatment alternatives that are commonly proposed to class II, division I patients, including camouflage and orthognathic surgeries. Methods: The original profile photos of two male and two female patients were altered with Photoshop in order to simulate camouflage and surgical treatment. This was performed by increasing the nasolabial angle by 4 mm, 8 mm, and 12 mm and extending the chin-neck length by 3 mm, 6 mm, and 9 mm. The initial and actual final photos of the patient, along with the six modified pictures, were presented to the participants. They reordered the pictures from the most aesthetic to the least aesthetic. Results: Overall, 30 orthodontists and 140 laypeople completed the task. Orthodontists perceived surgical treatment as more attractive compared to laypeople. The highest rank was assigned to post-treatment photographs of the patients, while the lowest rank was given to pre-treatment photographs. Conclusion: Class II treatment adds to profile attractiveness as judged by laypeople and orthodontists. There are some differences in opinions between these groups.