Introduction:

Smile analisis in dentistry is essential when performin dental aesthetic treatments. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the perception of different aesthetic parameters of the smile among dentists, dental students and patients.

Materials and methods:

Dentists, dental students and patients evaluated 5 sets of smile pictures through qualified surveys. The photographs were grouped according to modifications made in 3 smile aesthetic parameters: gingival contour, lip line (subdivided into A and B), and dental proportion (further subdivided in width and length). Data was statistically analyzed using Chi-square test.

Results:

80% of dentists and students considered more attractive a symmetrical gingival contour, 73% of patients consider more attractive a gingival contour discrepancy up to 1 mm. Regarding Lip Line A, both Dentists (67%) and students (77%) found more attractive a smile with 2 mm of gingival exposure, 67% of patients prefered 1 mm of gingival exposure. Lip Line B, with 1 mm of gingival exposure, was considered more attractive by all respondents. The dental proportion between the width of the central and lateral incisors considered more attractive was 71%; for the width / length of the central incisors, a proportion of 75% was more attractive for the all the groups surveyed.

Discussion:

Gingival contour was the most sensitive parameter when evaluating the aesthetics of the smile. No significant diffrences in perception were found for the other two parameters included in this study.

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