title: The enigma of facial beauty: esthetics, proportions, deformity, and controversy.
abstract: The study of the face and the ability to alter its form have fascinated mankind for thousands of years. The clinical ability to alter dentofacial form, whether through orthodontics, facial growth modification, or surgery, requires an understanding of facial beauty, including the evaluation of facial esthetics, proportions, and symmetry. The purposes of this article were to give a brief contemporary overview of our concepts of facial beauty and esthetics and to consider a long-standing and controversial debate on the treatment of patients with dentofacial deformities.
authors.affiliation: Orthodontic Department, St George's Hospital and Medical School, Kingston Hospital, London, United Kingdom. farhad@naini.freeserve.co.uk
authors.forename: Farhad B
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Naini
authors.forename: James P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Moss
authors.forename: Daljit S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Gill
mesh_terms: D001504:Beauty; D002508:Cephalometry; D004955:Esthetics, Dental; D005145:Face / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D019767:Maxillofacial Abnormalities / Q000523:psychology; D012649:Self Concept