Influence of orthodontic appliance design on employment hiring preferences.

INTRODUCTION: The objective of this study was to evaluate the extent to which different types of orthodontic appliances influence the hiring process of an individual applying for a customer service position. METHODS: A total of 7 images were created for 2 adult models: 1 male and 1 female. One image was produced without orthodontic appliances, and 6 simulated the use of orthodontic appliances, including a conventional metallic appliance with a gray elastic ligature, a conventional metallic appliance with blue elastic ligature, a conventional appliance with a transparent elastic ligature, a self-ligating metal appliance, a self-ligating esthetic appliance, and a clear aligner. A photo album was designed for each model and delivered, along with a questionnaire, to individuals in charge of job interviews and hiring. These evaluators included 236 individuals, divided into 4 groups according to age and gender: males between 18-35 years (M), males over 35 years (M > 35), females between 18-35 years (F), and females over 35 years (F > 35). The evaluators quantified the chance of hiring the models using a Visual Analogue Scale. The Mann-Whitney test was used to compare the evaluators according to gender and age. The Wilcoxon test was used to compare the models according to gender. The Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn post hoc tests were used to compare the appliances according to design. A 5% significance level was used for all tests. RESULTS: The clear aligner group showed the highest likelihood of being hired, followed by the group without orthodontic appliances, the groups with esthetic appliances (ie, conventional appliance with a transparent elastic ligature, and self-ligating esthetic appliance), and the groups with metallic appliances (ie, self-ligating metal appliance, conventional metallic appliance with gray elastic ligature, and conventional metallic appliance with blue elastic ligature). CONCLUSIONS: Assuming all other qualifications of the applicants are equivalent, the use of an orthodontic appliance may influence job interviews. The better the esthetics of the appliance, the higher the likelihood of the individual being hired.

Evaluation of facial esthetics in long-faced white Brazilian middle school students.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine orthodontists' and layperson's perceptions about facial esthetics in a long face pattern sample. METHODS: The sample consisted of 64 frontal photographs of white Brazilian middle school students (9-15 years old), diagnosed as long faced through morphologic evaluation and confirmed by the facial index. A Likert-type scale was used to determine orthodontists' (22) and laypeople's (22) perceptions about facial esthetics. Chi-square and proportions tests were used for comparison between the examiners regarding the classification in each degree of esthetics, adopting a significance level of 5%. RESULTS: For orthodontists and laypeople, most of the subjects were considered to have acceptable appearance: 36.4% and 40.3%, respectively. Subjects whose appearance was classified as unpleasant constituted one-third of the sample: for orthodontists, 7.8% very unpleasant and 22.9% unpleasant, and 6.7% and 22.2%, respectively, for laypeople. The facial structures most cited as responsible for unpleasantness were the lack of lip sealing followed by incisor exposition. The increase of the lower third of the face for orthodontists and eyes for laypeople were the third most cited unpleasant characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: For the evaluators, two-thirds of the long face sample were considered to have an acceptable, pleasant, or very pleasant appearance. Laypeople's opinions aligned with the orthodontists', that one-third of long-face patients were considered to have an unpleasant appearance.

Patients' preferences regarding age, sex, and attire of orthodontists.

INTRODUCTION: We investigated whether patients in different age groups are influenced by the age, sex, and attire of an orthodontist. METHODS: The opinions of 360 patients regarding 4 orthodontists and 3 types of attire (from photos) were investigated using a questionnaire. Patients were classified as children (8-11 years; n = 120; group 1), adolescents (12-17 years; n = 120; group 2), and young adults (18-25 years; n = 120; group 3). The chi-square test was used to evaluate age- and sex-based preferences for orthodontists and attire types, and a statistical test of proportion (significance level, 5%) was used for multiple comparisons. RESULTS: Young female orthodontists were preferred (41.1%). A white coat was the preferred attire (48.1%), followed by social clothing (31.7%) and a thematic pediatric coat (19.7%). Groups 1 and 2 preferred a young female orthodontist, whereas group 3 had no apparent age and sex preferences. Regarding attire, group 1 preferred social clothing, whereas groups 2 and 3 preferred a white coat. CONCLUSIONS: Patients of all ages consider appearance to be an important factor when choosing an orthodontist. The participants largely preferred younger professionals who dressed in white coats, because this type of attire was considered clean and hygienic.