Abstract
The aim of this study was to compare the smile esthetic perception of patients, dental students and dentists faced to different situations concerning gingival margin position. A total of 123 individuals (41 patients, 41 dental students and 41 dentists) completed a structured questionnaire and evaluated 6 pictures of the same smile modified in Adobe Photoshop® image-editing software representing: no gingival recession, 2 mm recession in one maxillary lateral incisor, 2 mm recession in both maxillary lateral incisors, 2 mm recession in one maxillary canine, 2 mm recession in both maxillary canines and generalized 2 mm recession. The visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to rate the esthetic perception. Mean VAS values were calculated and compared among gingival situations as well as group of respondents by one-way ANOVA, with an alpha level of 0.05. VAS analysis revealed that mean values ranged from 4.2 (±1.8) to 6.8 (±1.7). Images with no gingival recession received the highest score by all groups, with statistically significant differences among dentists and dental students. However, patients scored images with no recession with significantly lower ranks as compared with dentists and dental students. No significant differences were observed among patients for any of the situations. When dentists and dental students were compared, the worst situation was observed for generalized gingival recession, with scores 4.2 (±1.8) and 4.9 (±1.8), respectively. Patients and dental professionals had different perceptions about esthetics related to gingival margin position.
Highlights
Esthetics is an individual and subjective concept
The aim of the present study was to compare the esthetic perception of patients, dental students and dentists of six different situations of gingival margin position
Data Collection After filling out a structured questionnaire with questions on sociodemographic data and one question about the main factor considered for an esthetic smile, the participants evaluated six 13 x 18 cm photographs of the same smile standardized in terms of color and proportion (Fig. 1), which had been modified in Adobe Photoshop® image-editing software (Adobe Software Inc., San Diego, CA, USA)
Summary
Esthetics is often the main complaint in the dental office and patients usually evaluate treatment results based on the positive changes in their smile [2]. A possible reason for patients seeking for a better look is the fact that appearance may influence relevant concepts such personality, physical attractiveness, professional success, intelligence and happiness. This was observed in a research with more than 500 participants that evaluated photographs of pre and post treatment cases of esthetic changes [3]. Superior gingival margin position presented statistically significant results. The more gingival tissue was shown, the worst the esthetic score
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