An overview of photometric analysis to evaluate aesthetics in orthodontic patients

Photometric analysis is a facial aesthetics evaluation method which is useful for diagnosis and treatment planning. This system is increasingly applied since there is growing attention to aesthetic improvement and occlusal correction as objectives of orthodontic treatment. Ten articles regarding aesthetic analysis on photos were identified through scientific archives and analysed. The diagnostic rationale, the scientific reliability and the methods used were identified to help clinicians in their practice. Photometric analysis represents an effective, reliable and cheap system for the analysis of craniofacial morphology of the face profile. This analysis can be achieved in subjective or objective ways; the latter modality provides greater reproducibility of the results as well as a good assessment of the harmony between the external craniofacial structures, including soft tissue contribution; it also provides repeatable and reliable measurements, thus enabling a rapid acquisition of the facial image, with long-term durability. Through facial profile photometric analysis it is possible to obtain proportionality, angular and linear measurements. These measures are useful as parameters for an optimal definition of the conditions of normality, harmony and profile balance.