Perception of adults’ smile esthetics among orthodontists, clinicians and laypeople

Enio Ribeiro COTRIM, Átila Valadares VASCONCELOS JÚNIOR, Ana Cristina Soares Santos HADDAD, Sílvia Augusta Braga REIS

Objective: Smile esthetics has become a major concern among patients and orthodontists. Therefore, the aim of this study was: (1) To highlight differences in perception of smile esthetics by clinicians, orthodontists and laypeople; (2) To assess factors such as lip thickness, smile height, color gradation, tooth size and crowding, and which are associated with smile unpleasantness. Methods: To this end, edited photographs emphasizing the lower third of the face of 41 subjects were assessed by three groups (orthodontists, laypeople and clinicians) who graded the smiles from 1 to 9, highlighting the markers that evince smile unpleasantness. Kruskall-Wallis test supplemented by Bonferroni test was used to assess differences among groups. Additionally, the prevailing factors in smile unpleasantness were also described. Results: There was no significant difference (P = 0.67) among groups rates. However, the groups highlighted different characteristics associated with smile unpleasantness. Orthodontists emphasized little gingival display, whereas laypeople emphasized disproportionate teeth and clinicians emphasized yellow teeth. Conclusion: Orthodontists, laypeople and clinicians similarly assess smile esthetics; however, noticing different characteristics. Thus, the orthodontist must be careful not to impose his own perception of smile esthetics.

Keywords: Orthodontics. Dental esthetics. Smile.

How to cite: Cotrim ER, Vasconcelos Júnior AV, Haddad ACSS, Reis SAB. Perception of adults’ smile esthetics among orthodontists, clinicians and laypeople. Dental Press J Orthod. 2015 Jan-Feb;20(1):40-4. DOI: http:// dx.doi.org/10.1590/2176-9451.20.1.040-044.oar

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