Perception of smile aesthetics by dental specialists and patients

Resumo

Introduction: The objective of this study was to know the perception of aesthetic parameters of the smile by dental specialists and patients attending the Department of Orthodontics DEPeI, UNAM. Method: A descriptive observational study was performed. Three series of five smile photographs were observed by 284 participants of both sexes, from which 144 were dental specialists and 140 patients. Both groups rated pictures of smiles that were modified with PhotoShop® program. Results: There is a level of agreement between the two groups of participants with respect to the parameters chosen as «nothing aesthetic»; however, in the parameters rated as «very aesthetic» the only agreement was in a midline without deviation. Conclusion: There are differences in the perception of smile esthetics between dental specialists and patients.

Key words: Smile, perception and aesthetics.