[Morphological approach to facial esthetics: a Tunisian study]

Over the course of time, an esthetic standard, molded by a certain number of rules, recognized virtually universally, has gained widespread recognition. Orthodontics, like the rest of the world, accepts this rule. So, we all try in our treatment objectives to conform to a set of standardized "norms" of facial and cephalometric esthetics. Still, one question must be asked: can these norms be the same throughout the four corners of the globe? Having pondered this matter carefully, we attempted to find an answer by undertaking a study of 53 patients with "normal dentitions", all students of dental medicine. On profile cephalograms and profile photographs of these patients, we carried out a variety of esthetic analyses. We then compared the results obtained with orthodontic averages and found that they differed in many points. Should this finding impel us to adopt different esthetic criteria? However, this question may be answered, we retain our essential conviction that we should endeavor to preserve the goal of achieving facial harmony for our patients and that we should know what its criteria are.