• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.524-534
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• 2004

Statement of problem: The meaning of the beauty has a little different nature according to a time, culture, and nation. Purpose : This study was undertaken to estimate the geometric esthetic criteria for Korean woman by analysis of facial photograph in a smiling. Material and methods: The facial photographs of 678 Korean beautiful woman were collected from Miss Korea candidates(from 1971 to 2003 year). The dento-facial composition was measured and analyzed geometrically on computer monitor using $Adobe^{(R)}$ $Photoshop^{(R)}$ 7.0. The statistical significance of the differences among the 4 decade groups was estimated by a $x^2$ test. Result : The Korean beautiful woman skewed the geometric characteristics such as the 'coincidence' (83.0%) between facial midline and dental midline, the 'normal' (96.9%) alignment and arrangement of upper anterior teeth. the 'average' (79.1%) position and 'upward' (53.4%) curvature of upper lip, the 'parallel' (85.7%) relationship between the lower lip and upper anterior incisal curvature, the 'touching' (49.9%) and 'not-touching' (44.8%) relationship between upper anterior incisor and towel lip, the 'first premolar' (54.1%) and 'second premolar' (38.9%) displayed in a smile, and the 'symmetry' (89.4%) of smile. There was statistical significance among the 4 decades in the respect of the upper lip curvature, the relationship between upper anterior incisor and lower lip, and the most posterior teeth displayed in a smile (p<0.05). Conclusion : The Korean beautiful woman showed similar results to the western esthetic criteria in the some respects and the tendency that the Korean woman had more active smiling recently.