UCL Discovery
UCL home » Library Services » Electronic resources » UCL Discovery

The influence of varying maxillary incisor shape on perceived smile aesthetics

Hussain, A; Louca, C; Leung, A; Sharma, P; (2016) The influence of varying maxillary incisor shape on perceived smile aesthetics. Journal of Dentistry , 50 pp. 12-20. 10.1016/j.jdent.2016.04.004. Green open access

[thumbnail of Leung_201604 Aesthetics paper .pdf]
Preview
Text
Leung_201604 Aesthetics paper .pdf

Download (859kB) | Preview

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This paper aims to determine the influence of varying the maxillary incisor shape of an individual on perceived smile aesthetics. METHODS: A photograph of a female smile displaying maxillary teeth only was digitally altered to produce five different incisor shapes. They consisted of three basic shapes: square (S), ovoid (O), triangular (T) and two variations, tapered-ovoid (TO) and square-tapering (ST). The images were ranked from the most to the least attractive by 30 dentists, 30 technicians and 30 patients. RESULTS: The TO maxillary incisor shape was perceived to be the most attractive smile overall (50%), and amongst dentists (70%), technicians (50%) and patients (30%). The O shape maxillary incisors were ranked the second most attractive overall (36.7%) and the most attractive amongst patients (56%). The S shape maxillary incisors were perceived as the least attractive overall (43.3%), and amongst dentists (47%), technicians (50%) and patients (33%). CONCLUSIONS: The tapered-ovoid incisor tooth form for females is preferred to the square form, which corresponds with the findings in the dental literature. However, the results also suggest that there is not one ‘ideal’ incisor shape and that dental professionals are more critical than patients with respect to the shapes of maxillary incisors. Dental professionals should take the individual variability in patient response into consideration during treatment planning, to produce an aesthetic outcome that is acceptable for the patient. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: As a general rule, the tapered-ovoid tooth form is perceived to be more desirable than the square tooth form. The dental team should therefore keep this finding in mind and liaise with the patients accordingly, in order to help to produce desirable aesthetic clinical outcomes.

Type: Article
Title: The influence of varying maxillary incisor shape on perceived smile aesthetics
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.1016/j.jdent.2016.04.004
Publisher version: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jdent.2016.04.004
Language: English
Additional information: © 2016 Published by Elsevier Ltd. This manuscript version is made available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial Non-derivative 4.0 International license (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0). This license allows you to share, copy, distribute and transmit the work for personal and non-commercial use providing author and publisher attribution is clearly stated. Further details about CC BY licenses are available at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/. Access may be initially restricted by the publisher.
Keywords: Science & Technology, Life Sciences & Biomedicine, Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine, Maxillary Incisors' Profile, Smile Preferences, Perceived Aesthetics, Width/length Ratios, Dental Aesthetics, Anterior Teeth, Tooth, Preferences, Dimensions
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Medical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Medical Sciences > Eastman Dental Institute
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Medical Sciences > Eastman Dental Institute > EDI Continuing Professional Develop.
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/1496188
Downloads since deposit
619Downloads
Download activity - last month
Download activity - last 12 months
Downloads by country - last 12 months

Archive Staff Only

View Item View Item