Ovidius Dentist ry Journal, vol. 1, no. 1, 2014 36 [608413]

Ovidius Dentist ry Journal, vol. 1, no. 1, 2014 36
Study on Dento -facial Aspect in Young People
Within the Age Range of 20 to 30 Years

Corina Laura Ștefănescu1, Albertine Leon2, Rodica Maria Murineanu3

1Lecturer, DMD, PhD, 2, 3Assist. Prof. , DMD, PhD, Dept. of Dento -facial Esthetics,
Faculty of Dental Medicine, “Ovidius” University of Constanța

Abstract

Aim. To evaluate dento -facial aesthetic balance and to demonstrate human individuality in
young people aged between 20 and 30 years.
Material s and m ethod s. The method used was the gnatoph otostatic ex amination, on a
group of 66 subjects, Ovidius University students, aged between 20 and 30 years. This examination
consisted of the development of front and profile shots, drawing on these benchmarks and the union
of these points by straight lines. The measu rements were carried out with specific tools, and the
ratio of 1/1 was achieved by theory of proportions.
Results . The most common face shape was the oval in both sexes. In women, an almost
perfect proportionality was demonstrated between face floors in to ~ 30% of the subjects examined.
In vertical fifths, the second and the fourth are the standards, the first, the third and the fifth having
physiologic values in proportions of over 50%. The vertical face plane is not exceeded by the chin,
gender differenc es being provided by lower lip position data. Ricketts’ E plan e is in females
observes ideal distance. Naso -labial angle has less prevalent values in women as compared to
literature values.
Conclusions . The results, compared with those in the literature, lead to the conclusion that
the characteristics differ from one population to another , from one to another age, and, likewise,
from one sex to the other. What remains constant in each person are the golden proportions and
facial symmetry. Each individual is an entity; the degree of beauty is a subjective characteristic.
Keywords : facial ae sthetics, “divine proportion” , individuality.

Introduction

Beauty is a difficult concept to define. This can be done by defining a philosophical analysis
of the concept of beauty, or by analyzing ideal proportions through measurements.
The analysis of fa cial esthetics is based on certain rules. The general concepts underlying
this analysis are symmetry , proportions equality and the repetitive proportions . Human face, as the
whole of the body , is not symmetrical, large asymme tries are visible and draw attention to
themselves. Yet, symmetry and equality are not sufficient to talk about beauty. On the other hand,
the aesthetic balance of the face requires equa lity and proportionality among face components.
Proportionality of face components is the one to most ly influence human mind, it being the one to
bear upon the decision when commenting the concept of beauty. A concept on proportionality was
known as early as ancient Greece. This concept is known as the “Divine Proportion” or “ Golden
Concept” . Human face c ontains many such Divine Proportions.
Face framework may take different forms: oval, round, square, rectangular, triangular,
trapezoidal, they being more or less aesthetically pleasing. The oval facial framework is considered
to be a esthetically perfect.
Canonic assessment of facial aesthetic balanc e carries on with establishing certain land
marks located at cutaneous level and to this purpose a clinical investigation termed gnatophotostati c
was instituted. This exam consists of taking pictures of the front and profile and of mapping these

Ovidius Dentist ry Journal, vol. 1, no. 1, 2014 37benchmarks. Tr (tri chion), G (glabella), Sn (subnas ale), Gn (gnat hion) are reference points of the
face. Along these reference points, located on the midline, lines delineating the three floors of the
face are drawn, accor ding to Leonardo da Vinci: chin – tip of nose, tip of the nose – middle of brow
and middle of brow – hairline or the top line of the contraction of front muscle and, in men , with
baldness. This proportion is typical of adult humans; in children and the old, this proportion is
altered. The vertical face is divided into five equal parts, each of them being equal to the length of
the eye.
For profile analysis, a series of points and planes (lines) of reference are made use of: the
plane (horizontal) of Frankfu rt (orbitale -porion Or-Po), the vertical facial plane (perpendicular to
the Frankfurt horizontal) , plane of Ricketts (connects tip of nose to the tip of chin – pogonion, Pg),
the tangent to the nasal pyramid and the tangent to the upper lip. Among these pl anes are set a
series of reports and angles depending on which one can appreciate the harmony profile (1,2) .

Study objective

Demonstration of individual uniqueness consistent, or not, with the principles of
fundamental aesthetics. By u sing the canon ical method for assessing dento -facial aesthetic balance ,
along with the gnatophotostatic examination , this paper means to provide a survey of human
individuality inside the statistical classification on dental -facial appearance in young people aged
within the range of 20 and 30 years.

Material s and method s

The main constants of the facial appearance were used in the study, as follows:
– face shape ;
– the “golden proportion” – standing for the proportionality of face floors (upper, lower and
middle); face flo ors are drawn dividing the face by horizontal lines passing by the hairline, brow
line, nose base and lower edge of the chin (4);
– vertical fifths of the face – divide the face equally, each having the width of one eye ;
– the line of “Leonardo da Vinci” – is an imaginary line that is created when the vertical
face meets the lower lip and chin ;
– Ricketts ’ E-plane – is an imaginary line connecting the tip of the nose and chin (Pronasale
Gnat hion points); the lips would be behind this line as follows: the lo wer lip at about 2 mm the
upper lip at about 4 mm ;
– naso -labial angle – consisting of two lines connecting the base of nasal wings to the top of
the upper lip; it slots within the following average values : 90-95° in males and 100 -105° in females
(3).
The batch under examination consisted of a number of 66 people, Ovidius University
students, aged between 20 and 30 years.
The method used was based on front and profile measurements, by means of:
– digital callipers ( Figure 1)
– ruler ( Figure 2)
– compass ( Figure 3 )
– rapporteur ( Figure 4)
The main constants of facial appearance above mentioned were determined in eac h batch
member i.e. face shape, the “golden proportion ”, the proportionality of vertical fifths, the
“Leonardo da Vinci line”, Ricketts ’ E plane and the naso -labia l angle (Figure 5). The
measurements were integrated in a database, which was then subjected to scrutiny by means of the
graphical representation of percentages of the collected data.

Ovidius Dentist ry Journal, vol. 1, no. 1, 2014 38 Figure 1 . Digital calliper Figure 2 . Rulers

Figure 3 . Compass Figure 4 . Rapporteur

Figure 5 a,b . Determination of measurements by gnatophotostatic method in a 22 year -old female patient

Female patient, aged 22
– Face shape: oval
– Height of face floors: upper – 56 mm; median – 56 mm,
lower – 57 mm
– Proportionality of vertical fifths: proportional fifths
– Leonardo da Vinci Line: the vertical face is outweighed
by the lower lip and chin;
– Ricketts's E plane: distance from the upper lip – 2mm,
lower lip – meets the plane;
– Naso -labial angle 93○

Ovidius Dentist ry Journal, vol. 1, no. 1, 2014 39Results

Batch data analysis reveals that:
– of a total of 66 people, 46 were females and 20 were males ;
– the predominant age was 25 years, both f or females and that of males.
The results of static study are as follows:
– the most common face shape was the oval in both sexes, while the less encountered was
the rectangular, in females (4.35%) and the triangular and round in males (5%) (Figure 6 );

Figure 6 . Batch analysis by sexes in terms of face shape

– as regards the upper face , the predominant size is 57 mm (32.61%) in women, 57 mm
(25%) and 59 mm (25%) for males;
– in the matter of the middle face floor , the predominant size is 57 mm in females (28.26%)
and 59 mm (25%) and 61 mm (25%) in males;
– on the lower floor , the 57 and 59 m m sizes were mainly distributed in females (each
23.9%), while the 62 mm is met in males (30%).
– in terms of proportionality of face floors , an almost perfect proportionality is identified in
females ~ 30% of the subjects examin ed.
– in the instance of vertical fifths , the second and the fourth are standard, the first, the third
and fifth are of normal values in amounts exceeding 50%, as follows: the first fifth – 69.57% in
females and 55% in males, the third – 80.43% in females and 90% in males, the fifth – 67.39% in
females and 55% in males;
– the “Leonardo da Vinci” line: in females, the mo st common situation met with is that the
lower lip exceeds the vertical facial plane (41.3%) while the chin meets the plane (47.83%); for
males, in 60% of cases the lip meets the pl ane and, in an equal proportion (50%) , the chin either
meets or fails to me et the plane, which leads to t he conclusion that, in none of the instances does the
chin exceed the vertical facial plane (Figures 7, 8 );
– Ricketts ’s E plane analysis in females evidences the subsequent results – the distance from
the top lip of 4 mm (26. 09%) and 2 mm (34.78%) to the lower lip, while in males 3.5 mm (25%) to
the upper lip and 2 mm (40%) from the lower lip ; we reach the conclusion that, for females,
predominant is the ideal distance ( Figures 9, 10);
– the naso -labial a ngle, predominantly in females, is 93 ° and 94 ° (8.7%), and in most cases
(61%) women evide nce a decreased naso -labial angle (compared to literature values, less than
100°). A naso -labial angle of 92° is predominantly in male s (30%) and in 65% of cases, men show a
naso-labial angle with normal values. (Figures 11 , 12).

Ovidius Dentist ry Journal, vol. 1, no. 1, 2014 40Figure 7 . Batch analysis by Leonardo da Vinc i line in
relation to the lower lip Figure 8. Batch analysis by Leonardo da Vinci line in relation
to the chin

Legend: yes – it contacts the line; no – it does not have contact with the line

Figure 9. Batch analysis by Ricketts’ E plane related to upper lip

Figure 10. Batch analysis by Ricketts’ E plane related to lower lip

Ovidius Dentist ry Journal, vol. 1, no. 1, 2014 41Figure 11. Batch analysis by naso -labial angle in females Figure 12. Batch analysis by naso -labial angle in males

Discussion

In a 2005 study, K. A. Philips (5) d emonstrates that over 2% of the American population
suffers from psychological problems caused by body di sproportions – BDS phenomenon (“Body
Dysmorphic Disorder” ). It appears that the same percentage is maintained in the European
population.
Physiognomic and morphological changes due to age are also to be taken into account: they
do not occur at the same time in all patients and vary by sex, which is why we chose the statistical
analysis separately by gender.
The naso-labial angle consists of two lines, on e stemming from the base of nose wings, and
another proceeding toward the upper lip, both lines being independent of each other. The size of the
angle described by these two lines is a result of their individual inclinations. Measuring this angle
provides insufficient information because it does not reveal which component is responsible for the
variability. The nose, lips, or both could be in question. Therefore, it is important to analyze each
component of this angle to help diagnose the difference between the normal value and its variation.
A population study of Komarapalayam, India (6) on a sample of 40 adults (20 women and
20 men) who were diagnosed as having proportionate faces observed that the average naso-labial
angle in women is 115.71 ° and 116 . 51° in men.
Another survey studying Indian population on a standard of 45 persons (21 men and 24
women) aged between 22 and 24 years gets the following values : 96. 74° in men and 95. 64° in
women. The same study states that black people in Brazil had a naso -labial angle of 88.14 °, which
is less than the Indian population.
Such results compared with those obtained by us in the study, lead us to conclude that the
features differ from one population to another, from one age to another, and from one sex to
another. What remains constant in each person are golden proportions and facial symmetry.

Conclusions

1. Prevailing in the group of people investigated are the values considered ideal for the
analysis of frontal norm .
2. As regards the lateral norm (profi le analysis), certain alterations occur in most cases
under scrutiny, as demonstrated below:
– as regards the Leonardo da Vi nci l ine, it is noticed that it does not possess an ideal
prevailing projection in both males and females;
– as compared to standard values, Ricketts ’ E plane documents alterations in most male
cases;
– the naso-labial angle evidences low values in females (61% of instances).

Ovidius Dentist ry Journal, vol. 1, no. 1, 2014 423. Moreover, we observed, comparing our results with other studies conducted on many
people of different nationalities, that the values derived vary from one geographical area to anothe r,
from one ethnic group to another, from one individual to the other.

References

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2. Bass NM. The aesthetic analysis of the face. Eur J Orthod , 1991, 13: 343 -350.
3. Downs WB. Analysis of the dentofacial profile. Angle Orthod , 195 6, 26: 191 -212.
4. Cooke MS, Wei SHY. A summary five factor cephalometric analysis based on natural head posture and th e true
horizontal. Am J Orthod Dentofac Orthop , 1988, 93: 213 -223. CrossRefMedline
5. Philips KA, Courtney GP. Clinical features of muscle dys morphia among males with body dysmorphic disorder.
Body Image , 2005, 2(4): 395 -400.
6. Kohila K, Neetika MP. Evaluation of the naso -labial angle of the Komarapalayam population. Dental Science , 2012,
4(6): 313-315.

Corresponding author: Corina Laura Ștefănes cu, Lecturer, DMD, PhD, Department of dento –
facial aesthetics, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Ilarie Voronca street no. 7, Constanța 900684 ,
Romania . E-mail: corina.stefanescu@yahoo.com.