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.