Influence of facial pattern on the aesthetic assessment of the inclination of the occlusal plane in the frontal view.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to analyse the aesthetic perception by orthodontists, dentists and laypeople of the different inclinations on the occlusal plane in the frontal view in relation to facial biotype.

Materials and methods: The three groups of assessors evaluated the aesthetics of images with occlusal plane inclinations of 0º, 2º and 4º in a mesofacial, dolichofacial and brachyfacial face. Scores were assigned from 1 to 10 ("1": poor aesthetics and "10": very satisfactory aesthetics). The data were evaluated by the Kruskal-Wallis test (p < 0.05) and the Mann-Whitney test (Bonferroni correction p < 0.016).

Results: In meso- and dolichofacial faces, orthodontists considered 0º occlusal plane inclination to be significantly more aesthetic than 2º (mesofacial p = 0.004, dolichofacial p < 0.001) and 4º (p < 0.001), and 2º inclination more than 4º (p < 0.001). Dentists and laypeople rated 0º and 2º inclinations as significantly more aesthetic than 4º (p < 0.001) with no significant differences between 0º and 2º inclinations. For the brachyfacial face, the three groups rated 0º and 2º occlusal plane inclination as significantly more aesthetic than 4º inclination (p < 0.001), with 0º and 2º inclinations scoring similarly (p > 0.016).

Conclusions: Orthodontists were more critical than dentists and laypeople when assessing mesofacial and dolichofacial facial types, whereas no differences were observed between the three groups for brachyfacial faces.  CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The facial pattern influences the perception of the occlusal plane. Understanding these differences is crucial for clinicians, as it can enhance diagnostic accuracy and optimize treatment planning, leading to more personalized and effective orthodontic care.