The perception of selected aspects of smile esthetics—smile arcs and buccal corridors

Abstract

A primary goal of orthodontics is the attainment of ideal facial and dental esthetics. Recently, orthodontics has experienced a “paradigm shift” to focus more on esthetics, with specific emphasis on the soft tissues around the month. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of changes in smile arcs and buccal corridors and interactions on the perceptions of smile esthetics as it relates to orthodontists and laypersons. The specific aims were (1) to develop a digital model that can be manipulated in a quantifiable manner to present the variables of interest (ie, smile arcs and buccal corridors) to orthodontists and laypersons, (2) to quantitatively evaluate the effects of changes in smile arcs and buccal corridors and combinations thereof by using the digital model on the perceptions of smile esthetics as judged by orthodontists and laypersons via a web-based survey, (3) to assess the effects of changes in smile arcs and buccal corridors and combinations thereof on the perceptions of smile acceptability as judged by orthodontists and laypersons via a web-based survey, and (4) to determine the possible effects of characteristics of orthodontists and laypersons on the variables related to smile esthetics.