An evaluation and comparison of smile characteristics of female adults in high angle, medium angle and low angle skeletal types – An observational study

Abstract

To evaluate and compare the smile characteristics of female adults in high angle, medium angle and low angle skeletal types. Frontal photograph at posed smile of 45 adult females were taken with the help of Canon 1500D camera. These photographs were standardized and uploaded on to the Medit Link software. Various smile characteristics like upper lip length, upper lip thickness, lower facial height, lower lip thickness, lower lip length, chin height, incisor display, buccal corridors, gingival display and smile width were measured. Descriptive statistics were carried out for the data and ANOVA test was done for comparison among the types. P-value more than 0.05 was taken to be significant. It was seen significant for gingival display and chin height in high angle types. The mean for gingival display was 2.26 mm in high angle types (P=0.000531). The mean for chin height was 34.84 mm in high angle types (P=0.016198). Smile width also showed significant results in low angles types. The mean for smile width was 63.88 mm in low angle types. The significant differences were seen to be in gingival display and chin height in high mandibular females, showing longer chin and more gingival display. In low mandibular angle females, it was seen that they have a broader smile. No significant angle wise differences were seen in other parameters.