Abstract
Höfel, L., Lange, M., & Jacobsen, T. (2007). Beauty and the teeth: perception of tooth color and its influence on the overall judgment of facial attractiveness. International Journal of Periodontics and Restorative Dentistry, 27(4), 349-357.
Beauty and the teeth: perception of tooth color and its influence on the overall judgment of facial attractiveness
This study investigated the influence of changes in tooth color on judgments of facial attractiveness. Standardized photographs were presented, and teeth were digitally manipulated (main categories: original, whitened, colored; filler category: impaired). Participants were instructed to evaluate the faces for attractiveness. Additionally, they were asked to name facial features they found either positive or negative with regard to attractiveness. Whitened teeth were mentioned more often in a positive way but did not improve participants' assessment of attractiveness. A colored tooth did not attract attention, and the attractiveness judgment did not worsen. Tooth color is thus not necessarily perceived and does not have a major impact on facial attractiveness.
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Cognitive and Biological Psychology
University of Leipzig
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Dagmar Schrödl
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