INFLUENCE OF SYMMETRIC & ASYMMETRIC ALTERATIONS OF MAXILLARY CANINE POSITION ON THE PERCEPTION OF SMILE ESTHETICS BY DENTISTS & LAYPERSONS.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the differences in the perception of smile esthetics in symmetric & asymmetric alterations of maxillary canine position by dentists and laypersons. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A Close-up smile photograph of an Indian female was selected. The image was altered digitally & the canine vertical position was modied. A total of 9 images were obtained & were evaluated by 35 dentists and by 35 laypersons who determined the attractiveness of each smile using a Visual Analog Scale. RESULTS: For both dentists and laypersons; the symmetric & asymmetric alterations in canine vertical positions had a statistically signicant correlation (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: For both dentists and laypersons the most attractive smile was the standard smile and the smile that was least attractive was with bilateral 1 mm extrusion. Dentists were more critical in their assessment.