Assessment of tooth proportions in an aesthetically acceptable smile.

Abstract

Aesthetic facial animation is mostly reported to be due to a close relationship between soft and hard tissue i.e. dynamic smile with appropriate tooth proportions. But variations in tooth size have been seen among various ethnic populations globally. To evaluate the size and morphology of maxillary anterior teeth, the tooth with maximum variation both mesiodistally and cervicoincisally. Also, the tooth to tooth ratio in percentage of the mean tooth sizes in both genders in patients with aesthetically acceptable smile decided by a panel in North Indian population. A total of 100 subjects (50 males and 50 females) were taken and a video clip of their dynamic smile was captured .The smiles were analyzed by a panel and the tooth proportions of the selected attractive smiles were evaluated in both males and females separately. Data obtained was subjected to statistical analysis using Microsoft Excel 2007 software; test used was Unpaired t-test and also Mean ± S.D., Variance, Ratio of W/L and its ranges were calculated. Significance is assessed at 5% level of significance. The mesiodistal width and cervicoincisal length of maxillary central incisor was greater compared to lateral incisor and canine in both males and females. There was a statistically significant difference between the width/length ratio of maxillary anterior teeth between males and females.Canine and Lateral incisor showed maximum variation mesio-distally and cervico-incisally. A smile is more pleasing if the visible teeth are in proper morphological proportions. Thus, it relates that teeth play a vital role in increasing the attractiveness of a smile. The mean coronal width/length ratio displayed a more square like tooth form for both males and females.