Factors influencing the esthetic of the smile. An observational study on clinical assessment and patient's perception
Clin Periodontol
Aim: To clinically assess the esthetic of the smile and possible influencing factors.
Materials and methods: In this explorative study an initial questionnaire on demographic variables and perception of the own quality of the smile (Visual Analogue Scale) was administered by a first examiner. A second blinded assessor examined all patients and recorded clinical data. In addition, for each patient the Smile Esthetic Index (SEI) was calculated. Descriptive statistics and multilevel logistic models were performed.
Results: One-hundred consecutive subjects were enrolled. Mean SEI was 8.4±1.2, while mean patient's perception of the smile was 7.1±2.0. However, they did not correlate (r=0.16 from -0.04 to 0.34; P=0.12). Gingival recessions were perceived by 21.9% of subjects, tooth alignment by 38.6%, tooth dyschromia by 34,3%, and missing papilla/diastema by 26.7%. In particular, gingival recessions were perceived when they were deeper (p=0.0342), located in the upper jaw (p=0.0223), and corresponding to incisors (p<0.0001) and canines (p=0.0159) with respect to molars.
Conclusions: Clinical assessment and patient's perception represent two important diagnostic phases. However, they result not correlated. Attention should be given at specific variables in order to provide a most comprehensive esthetic analysis of the smile. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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