A PHOTOGRAPHIC SCALE TO MEASURE FACIAL AESTHETICS

The aim of this study was to develop a measurement scale to quantify f acial aesthetics. Four series of 36 standardized facial photographs (b oys 11-13 years; girls 11-13 years; boys 14-16 years; girls 14-16 year s) were judged twice by eight orthodontists, eight laymen, and eight c hildren. This was undertaken by comparing each photograph with one ref erence photograph of a child of the same sex and age. Pearson's correl ation coefficients were calculated to determine intra-observer agreeme nt (median Pearson's correlation r=0.78), and to assess the correlatio n between the scores of each judge and those of the others in that pan el (median Pearson's correlation r=0.71). Alpha coefficients were calc ulated as a measure for the reliability of the composed scores (median alpha coefficient alpha=0.90). Finally, the correlation between the t hree jury panels was established (median Pearson's correlation r=0.84) . The results showed that the reproducibility of rating facial aesthet ics is good. Moreover, a high level of agreement was found between the ratings of different panels. Therefore, a mean overall score for each judged photograph could be calculated. Finally, for each age and sex group a metric scale was composed, consisting of five photographs with their scores. These scales can be used to evaluate the results of ort hodontic treatment with respect to facial aesthetics.