Perception of Smile Aesthetics by Dental Professionals and Laypeople of Different Age and Gender in Canine Substitution

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of different smile patterns that may occur as a result of canine substitution for the treatment of missing lateral incisor(s) on the esthetic perception in patients of different age groups, sex, and profession (dental professionals and laypeople).MATERIALS AND METHODS: The frontal extraoral photographs of a 28-year-old female patient were digitally modified using an image editing software program (Photoshop CC; Adobe Corp). Eight photographs were produced by simulating canine substitution with altered teeth and gingival levels. A total of 713 (317 dental professionals and 396 laypeople) respondents participated in an online survey. A numeric rating scale was used, with "0" representing the least attractive and "10", the most attractive. Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests were used for comparison. Bonferroni correction was used to check type1 errors in all possible multiple comparisons.RESULTS: In the group of dental professionals and laypeople aged 36-45, females had lower appreciation percentages compared to males (p<0.000625). Dental professionals had lower appreciation percentages than laypeople (p<0.00056). Male dental professionals in the 26-35 age group had lower appreciation percentages compared to the 36-45, 46-55, and 56-65 age groups (p<0.00156). CONCLUSION: While reshaping canines as lateral incisor teeth, the participants' age, sex, and whether the participant was a dentist, affected the esthetic perception. However, gingival level differences and whether the treatment was symmetrical did not cause any difference in terms of esthetic perception for any of the groups.