Smile Attractiveness Evaluation of Patients Selected for a U.S.-Based Board Certification Examination

Clear Aligners and Smart Eye Tracking Technology as a New Communication Strategy between Ethical and Legal Issues

Smart eye-tracking technology (SEET) that determines visual attention using smartphones can be used to determine the aesthetic perception of different types of clear aligners. Its value as a communication and comprehension tool, in addition to the ethical and legal concerns which it entails, can be assessed. One hundred subjects (50 F, 50 M; age range 15-70) were equally distributed in non-orthodontic (A) and orthodontic (B) groups. A smartphone-based SEET app assessed their knowledge of and opinions on aligners. Subjects evaluated images of smiles not wearing aligners, with/without attachments and with straight/scalloped gingival margins, as a guided calibration step which formed the image control group. Subsequently, the subjects rated the same smiles, this time wearing aligners (experimental images group). Questionnaire data and average values for each group of patients, and images relating to fixation times and overall star scores, were analyzed using these tests: chi-square, t-test, Mann-Whitney U, Spearman's rho, and Wilcoxon (p < 0.05). One-way ANOVA and related post-hoc tests were also applied. Orthodontic patients were found to be better informed than non-orthodontic patients. Aesthetic perception could be swayed by several factors. Attachments scored lower in aesthetic evaluation. Lips distracted attention from attachments and improved evaluations. Attachment-free aligners were better rated overall. A more thorough understanding as to the opinions, expectations and aesthetic perception of aligners can improve communication with patients. Mobile SEET is remarkably promising, although it does require a careful medicolegal risk-benefit assessments for responsible and professional use.

Influence of Lip Appearances and Tooth Shade on Smile Attractiveness Perception

This study determined the effect of lip thickness, lipstick color, and tooth shade on the smile attractiveness perceptions of dentists, laypersons, dental students, and other faculty students. A set of 27 smile photographs was prepared with different lip thicknesses (Tk, thick; M, medium; and Tn, thin), lipstick shade (R, red; P, pink; and O, orange), and tooth shades (0M1, 0M3, and A1). A total of 212 Thai participants in four rater groups (dentists, laypersons, dental students, and other faculty students) rated smile attractiveness using a visual analog scale (VAS). Statistical analyses were performed using the Kruskal-Wallis test and pairwise analysis at a 0.05% level of significance. Tk or M lip thickness was associated with more smile attractiveness than Th lip thickness. The R lipstick is more attractive than the P and O lipsticks. The 0M1 tooth shade appeared to be the most attractive for laypersons and other faculty students, whereas tooth shades (0M1, 0M3, or A1) did not influence the smile attractiveness perception of dentists and dental students. The smile attractiveness perception was influenced by the lip appearance and tooth shade for each rater group, which are essential for an attractive smile design.

Contemporary Smile Design: An Orthodontic Perspective

Orthodontists play a vital role in the smile design of individuals. There are a variety of orthodontic goals and tooth movements that can be achieved to obtain the ideal smile that ultimately leads to the optimum esthetic outcomes. In this article, some methods and appliance systems to control and achieve the desired tooth movements are described and illustrated.

Comparison between orthodontist, general dentist, and layperson in the perception of pink esthetics on smile: A cross-sectional study

Objectives:

Smile designing has become an essential part of dental training and a beautiful smile not only adds to the esthetics of the face but also conveys emotions and augments the self-esteem of an individual. A beautiful smile is achieved by well-balanced pink and white esthetics. This study was designed to evaluate the difference in perceptions of orthodontists, general dentists, and laypersons to alterations in gingival characteristics on smile.

Material and Methods:

Smile images were modified intentionally to obtain the desired variations in gingival features such as color and contour of free gingival margins, inflammation, pigmentation, gingival margins with or without recession, zenith, and interdental papilla. A total of 51 images were rated by orthodontists, general dentists, and laypersons using Q sort methodology.

Results:

Variations in the position of free gingival margin with recession was most negatively ranked gingival factor by orthodontists, general dentists, and laypersons followed by variations in the position of interdental papilla. Position of free gingival margin without a recession, color changes due to pigmentation, and inflammation were moderately ranked. Control images and altered gingival zenith images were most positively ranked. Bilateral changes were perceived more readily compared to unilateral in factors such as a black triangle, zenith position, pigmentation, inflammation, and recession.

Conclusion:

Orthodontists seem to be less tolerant in their evaluations in comparison to general dentists and laypersons. The findings of this study point toward a crucial fact that smile designing should focus on parameters that are perceived readily by the public in general.