Aesthetic perception of gingival smiles

Sabrina Maciel Cavalcanti,Flavia Bridi Valentim,Elizabeth Pimentel Rosetti,Selva Maria Gonçalves Guerra

doi:10.1590/1807-2577.08017

Sabrina Maciel Cavalcanti, Flavia Bridi Valentim + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/1807-2577.08017

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Abstract

Abstract Introduction Dentists have shown interest in learning new techniques to create more attractive smiles, but with little concern for understanding the reasons why the patient is dissatisfied. Objective To evaluate the aesthetic perception of laypersons in dentistry in comparison with general practitioner dentists and periodontists regarding the gingival smile, and to compare this aesthetic perception between the male and female genders. Methodology A photograph of a standard smile was taken and was digitally modified to create the periodontal conditions of a gingival smile from 0.5 mm to 2.5 mm. The photographs were judged by 150 individuals (25-65 years of age), 81 female and 69 male, divided into three groups: 50 laypersons, 50 general practitioners and 50 periodontists. The evaluation was performed using a visual analog scale. The statistical evaluation tests used were the Pearson Chi squared test, Student's t-test, ANOVA and Newman-keuls. Result The aesthetic perceptions among the professionals are similar, and they observe more subtle changes in the aesthetics of the smile than the laypersons observe. The general practitioners and periodontists were similarly sensitive to changes generated in the gingival smile when these reached 1.5 mm, while laypersons only perceived them when these changes reached 2.5 mm. There was no significant difference in the aesthetic perception of male and female evaluators in any of the groups. Conclusion The aesthetic perception of the gingival smile between general practitioner dentists and periodontists was similar, and dental professionals were more demanding than the layperson. There was no difference between female and male aesthetic perceptions.

Highlights

Dentists have shown interest in learning new techniques to create more attractive smiles, but with little concern for understanding the reasons why the patient is dissatisfied
Rev Odontol UNESP. 2018 Jan-Feb; 47(1): 45-50 new techniques and materials to create more attractive smiles, but with little concern for understanding the reasons why the patient is dissatisfied[2]. Conditions such as median line deviation, color of the teeth, and dental and gingival margin symmetry have been the subject of several studies of aesthetic perception[3,4,5,6]
The gingival smile is of great concern to dentists as they consider it aesthetically unacceptable, and its correction generally requires combined orthodontic, periodontic and surgical procedures

Summary

INTRODUCTION

The society to which an individual belongs greatly influences the concept of beauty and aesthetics adopted, it being considered abstract and related to individual expectations[1]. This study aimed to evaluate the aesthetic perception of laypersons in dentistry, in comparison with general practitioner dentists and periodontists, regarding the exposure of gingival tissue when smiling, and to compare male and female aesthetic perceptions. This cross-sectional study was carried out in the city of Vitória, ES, after receiving approval of the research project number 178/10 from the Committee of ethics in dental research of the Health. Each volunteer received the photo album of smiles, and evaluation sheets containing a visual analogue scale (VAS) of 100 mm of which the leftmost position indicated “not attractive smile” and the rightmost position indicated “very attractive smile”, as used in other studies[3,4,9].

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