Symmetry and Alignment of Teeth on Attractiveness

Beka Kolevski, Taylor Love, Beatriz Nicolas, Carlos Perez

Biology 11H

Professor Rodriguez

April 9, 2017
Abstract: This study attempts to show a correlation between dental symmetry and alignment in

regard to attractiveness, influencing human mate selection. Utilizing the Pasadena City College

student demographic, we surveyed data from 40 individuals in which we asked them to pick

images from two different image sets. From the data, there was an overwhelming preference for

corrected teeth as opposed to uncorrected teeth. This suggests that attractiveness and mate

selection is influenced by the degree of dental symmetry and alignment.

Introduction: Teeth are an integral feature of the human facial structure. Biologically, they serve

the purpose of chewing and digesting food. In regard to evolution, teeth are a good indicator of

overall health and genetics. Intrasexual selection is based on external biological features. In our

experiment, we chose to analyze the relationship between symmetry and alignment on

attractiveness. In a 2012 study done by Colin A. Hendrie and Gayle Brewer examining teeth as

an ornamental display impacting human mate selection, they found a positive correlation

between tooth spacing, color, and attractiveness in males and females. Another study on the

impact of tooth alignment found that alignment influenced social perception and sexual

attractiveness ( Verdecchia, Bee, Lombardo, Sgarbanti, Gracco) Our experiment varies from

previous experiments and studies in the way that we negate the impact of tooth coloring and

focus on the anatomical structure of the teeth and jaw bone. We believe that the more

symmetrical and aligned the teeth are, the more attractive the individual will be perceived,

influencing human mate selection.

Methods: We took four images of teeth that varied by symmetry and alignment. We edited the

photos to be in black and white, to eliminate the possibility of coloration (red gums, yellowed
teeth) biasing the results. We avoided choosing extreme examples of teeth alignment and

symmetry (very crooked, very straight etc) in order to get stronger data. We then proceeded to

show the photos, labeled as two sets of A and B, with a pair in each set to 40 participants at

Pasadena City College. The images were placed in a randomized order to prevent the participants

from guessing that the first image in each set would be the ideal set of teeth. The participants

rated the sets of teeth either as a yes or a no, no indicating that the participant found the teeth

unattractive with yes indicating that the teeth were attractive. We used a rating system of yes and

no to create a simple but effective set of data given the time constraints.

IMAGE SET 1

A.

B.

IMAGE SET 2

A. B.
Results:

We found that participants were more attracted to the corrected sets of teeth than the non-

corrected. The first image set that tested symmetry resulted in 90% of people preferring the

corrected set. Out of the forty people we surveyed, nine participants could not decide which

image they prefered on the second set. Due to this, only thirty-one people participated on the

second series. From this group 90.3% chose the corrected set. In both cases, the majority of

people found the corrected set more attractive.

Figures:
Set 1: Thirty-six people out of forty found the corrected set more attractive. Four chose the non-corrected

set to be more attractive.

Set 2: Twenty-eight participants out of thirty-one found the corrected set more attractive. Three people

found the non-corrected set more attractive.

Discussion:

Our findings supported our hypothesis by showing that individuals found the more symmetrical

and more aligned teeth attractive. In our results we discovered that the picture of Set 1A being

the more symmetrical set of teeth led 36 participants to find the teeth attractive. We found

similar high results with the aligned teeth in Set B where 28 of our participants found them more

attractive than the non aligned teeth. Although the whole facial symmetry has an effect when

selecting a mate, teeth play a role in depicting facial symmetry. Similar results were found in an

experiment where orthodontist, general dentist and laypersons all found asymmetric teeth

unattractive making it a key of importance when fixing patient's teeth to give them a better look.
In the same research it was stated that an acceptable smile should have no asymmetry, this

supports our hypothesis that symmetrical teeth are more attractive (Mayuri 2011).

One problem with our experiment was faced with the pictures in Set 2, where participants did not

find attractive neither picture A or B and so we had to omit their answers. Due to these results

the pictures used in Set 1 could have had this negative effect on making Set 2 less attractive even

though one pair of teeth were aligned. The picture for used for Set 2 should have been more

effective in showing alignment if it were to be faced forward rather than on the side view to be

consistent with the picture used for set 1. Another limitation of the experiment is the number of

those surveyed, if the experiment were to be repeated in the future a greater amount of

participants should be gathered to make the data more representative.

For further research we can gather data on how likely the person would have a long term

relationship with a person with symmetrical and aligned teeth to see whether this factor

contributes fully to the genetics of a person. We can also research whether an individual will be

willing to invest in orthodontic treatment and for what reason. In the International Journal of

Dentistry a research showed that orthodontist and parents believed that orthodontic treatment

will help improve oral health and enhance self-esteem (Samsonyanov 2014). Future research

in this area will allow us to see how much individual will invest in a treatment.

Appendix:

SET 1A SET 1B SET 2A SET 2B

1. YES NO NO YES

2. NO YES NO YES

3. YES NO NO YES

4. YES NO YES YES

5. NO NO NO NO

6. YES NO NO NO

7. YES NO NO NO

8. NO NO NO NO

9. YES NO NO NO

10. YES NO NO YES

11. YES NO NO YES

12. YES NO NO NO

13. NO NO NO YES

14. YES YES NO YES

15. YES YES NO NO

16. YES YES NO YES

17. YES NO NO NO

18. YES NO NO NO

19. YES NO NO YES

20. YES NO NO YES

21. YES NO NO YES

22. YES NO NO YES

23. YES NO NO YES

24. YES NO NO YES

 25. YES NO YES NO

26. YES NO NO YES

27. YES NO NO YES

28. YES NO NO YES

29. YES NO NO YES

30. YES NO YES NO

31. YES NO NO YES

32. YES NO NO YES

33. YES NO NO YES

34. YES NO NO YES

35. YES NO NO YES

36. YES NO NO YES

37. YES NO NO YES

38. YES NO NO YES

39. YES NO NO YES

40. NO NO NO NO

Citations:

Hendrie, C. A., & Brewer, G (July 31). Evidence to Suggest That Teeth Act as Human Ornament

Displays Signaling Mate Quality. Retrieved March 29, 2017.

Mayuri, Thomas, Rajesh Reddy, and B Reddy. (2011). Perception differences of altered dental

esthetics by dental professionals and laypersons. Indian Journal of Dental Research. 22:
 242-7. Retrieved April 2,2017.

Samsonyanov, Lusine; Broukal, Zdenek. (2014). A Systematic Review of Individual

Motivational Factors in Orthodontic Treatment: Facial Attractiveness as the Main

Motivational Factor in Orthodontic Treatment. International Journal of Dentistry.

Retrieved April 9, 2017.

Verdecchia, F., Bee, M., Lombardo, L., Sgarbanti, C., & Gracco, A. (2011). Influence of anterior

tooth alignment on peer perception in 8- to 10-year-old children. European

Journal of Orthodontics, 33(2). Retrieved April 3, 2017.