Facial aesthetics and childhood.

AIM The aim of the study is to evaluate attention and perception of parents about children's facial aesthetics, the paediatrician's role in early diagnosis of these problems and the areas of the face considered as the most important from an aesthetic point of view. METHODS The study was carried out collecting 1214 questionnaires at paediatricians waiting room in the North of Italy. RESULTS Most parents showed attention toward craniofacial deformities of their children and considered the paediatrician's role as very important in early diagnosis. Profile was considered more important than the front view and face's areas felt as the most important were denture, eyes and nose. CONCLUSION Despite public opinion, adults are concerned not only about the general health and growth of their children, but also about their facial aesthetics. They, in fact, not only judge aesthetics of the whole face, but also discriminate different views and specific areas of the face. They require, for early diagnosis of dentofacial problems, skilled attention from the paediatrician.