460 Reviews and abstracts Am. J. Orthod. October1977

profile drawings ranging from severely retrognathic to severely prognathic. In addition, they completed a self-concept questionnaire (Bill’s Index of Adjust- ment) and picked from the profile drawings the profile they felt most closely resembled their own. To obtain an objective profile, a silhouette photograph was taken of each subject.

Fifty-six per cent of the subjects were able to correctly identify their profiles and 93 per cent agreed with the orthodontic conception of the ideal profile. Contrary to the contention of Baldwin and Barnes, it was found that the frequency of self-concept problems is no greater among the parents of ortho- dontic patients than it is among the general population. Of the subjects who misperceived their profiles, those in the high self-esteem group judged their profiles to be significantly more ideal than they actually were and those in the low self-esteem group judged their profiles to be significantly less ideal than they actually were. Since there were equal percentages of subjects with ideal profiles in each self-esteem group, self-concept does not appear to be appreciably influ- enced by objective appearance. Rather, in most cases it seems that a person’s perception of his facial profile is determined by his psychological self-satisfaction rather than by his objective appearance. This research has implications for establishing a prediction of patient satisfaction with orthodontic reconstruction of the profile.

Social and Psychological Motivations for Orthodontic Treatment

Joseph Dorsey and Karen Kerabik Department of Orthodostios, hint Louis Vniversity, St. Louis, MO.

A questionnaire survey of the factors which motivate persons to seek ortho- dontic treatment was taken of three samples of orthodontic patients and their parents: (1) 177 persons from the Saint Louis University Orthodontic Clinic, (2) 37 persons from the practice of a black orthodontist with a lower-middle- class clientele, (3) 85 persons from the upper-middle-class practice of a suburban white orthodontist.

The patients were predominantly female, the decision for treatment was generally made by the mother, and treatment was seen as more important by parents than by child. The most important motivation for treatment was improve- ment of appearance because of the feeling that increased social and occupational opportunities would result. Lower-middle-class persons considered orthodontic treatment to be more important than upper-middle-class persons did. This can be attributed to their significantly greater need for social acceptance and their higher levels of aspiration for their children. Lower-middle-class persons also tended to be more child-oriented and to have better relationships with their children.

Cost determined whether treatment was sought at a private practice or the clinic ; however, there were no differences in satisfaction with treatment expressed by private versus clinic patients. Patients found visits to the orthodontist to be more enjoyable than visits to the general dentist.