OBJECTIVETo determine the facial profile preference among four groups of persons and the influence of vertical proportion and skeletal anteroposterior relation on facial profile esthetics.

METHODSOne hundred and twenty persons, comprising of adult patients, adolescents' parents, laypersons and orthodontists, participated this study. The subjects were asked to rate 27 silhouettes which represented the male facial profiles with various vertical proportion and anteroposterior relation.

RESULTSThe silhouette II-1s scored highest while the one III-4s scored lowest (P < 0.05). The silhouette I-normal was rated highest by orthodontists while the ones II-normal and II-1s were rated highest by other three groups. The silhouette III-4s was scored lowest by all groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSVertical discrepancy had influence on Chinese male facial profile esthetics and the influence was related to the degree of vertical malformation and skeletal anteroposterior relation. Class III skeletal pattern had the most negative influence on male profile esthetics. The four panels had different esthetic standard. The preference of facial profile esthetics was related to orthodontic education background rather than gender or age.