Esthetic perceptions of dentists and laypersons about different combinations of facial contours and upper incisor shape: a comparative study

Abstract

ABSRACT

1. Objective:

To select most esthetic photograph among the square, ovoid, tapered facial contour with 3 types of tooth shapes (square, ovoid and tapered), compare the data achieved from both the groups (dentists and laypersons), to recommend the outcome of the study to the dentists.

1. Methodology

A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in Rehman College of Dentistry, Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, from December 2021 to December 2022 on 270 dentists and laypersons (135 each) using a survey instrument that included 18 photographs of male and female faces. Up to 2 mm of gingiva was shown, with 3 types of shapes of teeth (tapered, ovoid and square) for each type of facial contour. Each subject had to observe each set of facial contour with three different shaped incisors and had to choose the most esthetic incisor from each set in 30 seconds. Data were analyzed by SPSS 22, with p≤0.05 indicating significance.

1. Results

Significant differences were noted in the preferences of dentists and laypersons for female facial contours and shape of teeth (all p<0.05). For the male facial contours, most, but not all, of the differences were statistically significant. In general, dentists preferred ovoid shape of incisors for the square shaped faces of both genders; dentists preferred ovoid shape incisors for 4 out of 6 sets of photographs, whereas laypersons preferred square or tapered shapes of incisors.

1. Conclusion

There was no general consensus in esthetic perception towards the frontal facial contour and maxillary incisor shape. Dentists tend to prefer ovoid shape tooth for almost all frontal facial outline.