Assessing perceptions of orthognathic surgery outcomes: A study among dental and non‐dental health professionals

Abstract

AbstractFacial aesthetics often dominate our social perceptions. For most Skeletal Class III patients, facial aesthetics is the chief complaint when seeking orthognathic surgery; therefore, the changes to appearance after surgery are of the utmost importance.ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the level of facial aesthetic improvement following bimaxillary osteotomy as perceived by health professionals with different backgrounds and knowledge of orthodontics.MethodsThirty evaluators were selected among specialist orthodontists (n = 10), general dentists (n = 10), and family medical practitioners (n = 10) and were requested to evaluate 16 skeletal class III patients (males; n = 8, females; n = 8) treated at a hospital‐based orthodontic clinic. Customised questionnaires were prepared using visual analogue scales to score pre and post‐surgery photographic (frontal and lateral) profiles. Questions surrounded perceptions of the overall facial attractiveness and the attractiveness of soft tissue neck, chin, lips, and nose.ResultsImprovements were detected overall and in all sub‐domain scores between pre and post‐surgery for all evaluator groups. Orthodontists found the greatest improvement, while family medical practitioners gave the least. All health professional evaluators perceived the benefits of bimaxillary osteotomy for facial attractiveness. The perceived benefit was most significant among specialist orthodontists, representing a need for restraint from overestimating surgical outcomes.ConclusionPerceptions of improvement following combined orthognathic surgery depend on background knowledge of orthodontics; additionally, the involvement of family medical practitioners in the planning of orthognathic outcomes may be indicated.