Quadratic correlation analysis between cephalometric measurements and facial profile attractiveness

doi:10.19439/j.sjos.2026.01.013

Abstract

Abstract: PURPOSE: To explore the nonlinear quadratic relationship between cephalometric measurements and facial attractiveness. METHODS: Photographs were used by 16 laypersons to rate the attractiveness of 180 adult patients without orthodontic treatment.The quadratic correlation between 37 cephalometric measures(obtained from lateral cephalograms) and facial attractiveness was calculated, and the maximum attractiveness values(MAVs) for significant cephalometric measures were identified. RESULTS: Nineteen measures demonstrated significant quadratic correlations with facial attractiveness, with r values from 0.203 to 0.529. The top 12 parameters that had a significant quadratic correlation with facial attractiveness were ANB angle (r = 0.529, MAV = 2.3°), NA-APo (0.505, 3.9°), G'-Sn-Pog' (0.467, 11.1°), UL-EP (0.440, -0.3 mm), Wits (0.415, 0.1 mm), facial angle (0.374, 89.1°), FMIA (0.374, 63.6°), Pog' to G Vert (0.374, 0.7 mm), N' Vert-Pog'(0.368, 4.2 mm), SNB(0.367, 79.2°), L1-NB (0.346, 5.3 mm) and L1-NB (0.340, 25.2°), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The protrusion of the upper lip and the anteroposterior position of the mandible may be the primary cephalometric parameters related to subjective facial profile perceptions. The position of the lower incisor contributed more to facial attractiveness than the upper incisor. It is noteworthy that the normal values for most cephalometric measurements differ significantly from the MAV, indicating that these normal values do not accurately reflect facial attractiveness.

Key words: Face, Esthetics, Cephalometric measurements, Quadratic correlation

CLC Number:

R783.5

Feng Xiaofan, Chen Xin, Ren Hongyu. Quadratic correlation analysis between cephalometric measurements and facial profile attractiveness[J]. Shanghai Journal of Stomatology, 2026, 35(1): 77-82.

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