How much upper midline deviation orthodontist and lay people can note?

Antonio David Corrêa NORMANDO, Lediana Aguiar AZEVEDO, Patrícia Nascimento PAIXÃO

Aim: The present study evaluated the perception degree of the upper midline deviation and crown incisor angulation among orthodontists and lay people, as well as the infl uence of the labial philtrum visualization as a morphological reference of the facial midline during smile examination. Methods: in a smile picture taken from a 23 year old female, 10 year after orthodontic retention, changes were made in the upper midline, from 1mm to 4mm, and in the crown incisor angulation, from 5º to 15º, both for left side, using a image manipulation software (Adobe Photoshop 7.0). The pictures were cut out forming a group with and another without the visualization of the labial philtrum. The images obtained were examined by 24 orthodontists and 24 graduated lay people. Results: Results showed that orthodontists were less tolerant to discrepancies of midline than lay people, as well as to changes in the crown incisor angulation. The orthodontists were able to observe midline deviations of 2mm and crown incisor angulation deviations starting from 5º. The lay people examiners considered as unacceptable only midline deviations starting from 3 or 4mm, depending on the labial philtrum visualization, and angulation deviations of the incisor crown starting from 10º. Labial philtrum visualization had infl uenced only to lay people examiners. Conclusions: It can be concluded that orthodontists are more critic when examining midline deviations and crown angulation changes than lay people examiners. The visualization of the philtrum has no infl uence for the orthodontist group, but had slight infl uence on the lay people examiners.

Keywords: Dental midline. Facial midline. Tooth angulation. Dental photographs.

Friday, May 03, 2024 10:45